Body Language Analysis No. 4235: Beware the Ides of March • Donald Trump removing H.R. McMaster • Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Once it became publicly known that Michael Flynn had lied to Vice President Pence, President Trump asked Flynn to resign. Seven days later Donald Trump named General H.R. McMaster in his place.

On Thursday 15 March 2018, in an article with nineteen total sources, five of whom have direct knowledge of the impending change, The Washington Post reported that "President Trump has decided to remove H.R. McMaster as his national security".

The above image (and close-up below) of General McMaster was taken at Mar-a-Lago on 20 February 2017 - on the National Security Advisor's first day on the job.

From a nonverbal perspective, the components of General McMaster's facial expression in this moment include:

• Mild-moderate Jaw Jut
• Thinned, horizontal-oriented lips
• Mouth corners are laterally-vectored
• Tension in the region above upper lip/below the nose (aka mustache area)
• Nostril Flaring
• Tense/contracted Lower Eyelids
• Upper Eyelids opened significantly wider than baseline
• Forehead elevation (full width)

This nonverbal cluster indicates an amalgam of the emotions:

• Anger
• Frustration
• Regret

Summary:  Since his first day as National Security Advisor, more than any other single emotional expression, it's this particular and classic cluster of Anger, Frustration, and Regret which General H.R. McMaster has most frequently displayed throughout his tenure.  


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4234: Donald Trump's Reaction to Question Regarding Whether He Fired Rex Tillerson because the SOS called him a "Moron"

Body Language Analysis No. 4232: Betsy DeVos' 60 Minutes Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4230: Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump, and the Home Field Advantage

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils So Large?

Body Language Analysis No. 4217: Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther, Anxiety, and Alpha Up-Regulation

Body Language Analysis No. 4196: Trey Gowdy on "Face The Nation"

Body Language Analysis No. 4177: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen regarding Donald Trump's "Shithole Countries" Statement

Body Language Analysis No. 4173: California Mud Slides - Rescue and Surprise

Body Language Analysis No. 4149: Zendaya, Zac Efron, and "The Greatest Showman"


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Body Language Analysis No. 3940: National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's Press Conference regarding President Trump's Sharing of Classified Intelligence with the Russians - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

H.R. McMaster's press conference on Tuesday regarding President Trump sharing classified information with the Russians was packed with information. And while a good amount of it was conveyed via verbal language - a truckload arrived in the form of body language.

General McMaster displayed some particularly interesting nonverbal signals as the very first question was being asked (beginning at 6:00 in the above video):

Journalist: Thanks a lot. General McMaster, ah, you came out to the stakeout are yesterday and, ah, and coming out to the stakeout area, you said that the Washington Post story, which came out yesterday afternoon, was false. Do you stick by that assertion? Do you think that every element of that story is false and do you have anything to correct, in terms of what you said at the podium yesterday afternoon?

Now watch his face one more time in slow motion - paying close attention to McMaster's face as the journalist says the words which are color-coded below.

Journalist: Thanks a lot. General McMaster, ah, you came out to the stakeout are yesterday and, ah, and coming out to the stakeout area you said that the Washington Post story, which came out yesterday afternoon, was false. Do you stick by that assertion? Do you think that every element of that story is false and do you have anything to correct, in terms of what you said at the podium yesterday afternoon?

This first image was captured during 6:05, as McMaster was listening to the journalist's words, "... coming out ...". Note the general tilts his head downward (as he also gazes downward) and juts his jaw significantly forward. There are even portions of his lower teeth visible. This is significant for a sizable adrenaline surge. In this moment, he is experiencing the emotion of anger.

In the next instant (during 6:06), as the general was listening to the journalist say, "... the stakeout area ...", we see an excellent example of an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). An inward lip roll is a signal of the psyche's attempt at suppressing the crescendo of strong emotion (both felt internally and displayed externally).

A spit second later, as the journalist spoke the words, "... you said ..." (6:07), General McMaster displays a clear primary expression of Contempt (note his left 'Mustache area tighten and elevate simultaneous with his left flared nostril) - and with a secondary component of Anger (His eyebrows are drawn downward and slightly closer together. There is also increased tension in his lower eyelids). This display is evanescent enough to classify it as a microexpression.

A few seconds later in the same question, as the Journalist says, "... assertion? Do you think ..." (6:15 - 6:16), General McMaster again both gazes and tilts his head downward - as he juts his jaw forward - this time exposing even a bit more of his lower teeth. Once again, this display indicates Anger.

With the very next words of, "... that every element of that ..." (6:16 - 6:17), H.R. McMaster clenches his jaw in Anger - as the tissue below his lower lip bulges up (Frustration) and his chin displays dimpling. This was a very common expression of Barack Obama during his presidency.


Summary: H.R. McMaster felt significant emotional dissonance during his press conference on 16 May 2017. The short segment above demonstrates anger, contempt, frustration - as well as a strong desire to suppress these feelings. It's not possible, with this limited sampling, to determine whether the general feels these emotions toward himself, the journalist asking the question, the Russians, President Trump, or some other person(s).


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3399: The Russians are Confident - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 3397: Mr. Lavrov Goes To Washington - “Was he fired? You’re kidding!” - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and James Comey 

Body Language Analysis No. 3395: Donald Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 3933: Sally Yates Testimony before Senate Judiciary Committee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3927: Jimmy Kimmel's Emotional Monologue regarding His Son’s Birth & Heart Disease

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3924: French Presidential Front-Runner Emmanuel Macron

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3901: Jared Kushner in Iraq

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3875: Children Interrupt Dad During BBC News interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3805: Mariah Carey's New Year's Eve Lip Sync Fail On Live TV


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