Body Language Analysis No. 4168: President Trump's Hands - Conspicuous by their absence - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the above video of Donald Trump (published earlier today), the President exhibits a profound nonverbal signal. Watch it once and see if you can spot it.

Conspicuous by their absence - his hands are beneath the table the entire time. You can watch thousands of hours of videos of heads-of-state and you will rarely spot this body language - especially while they're speaking. This is particularly true of President Trump, whose normal behavior is to use fairly dramatic and frequent hand/arm gestures (aka Illustrators). Why? There are only a few possible reasons:

• Low Confidence: A low confidence level is the most common reason a person will keep their hands beneath the table for an extended duration. Trump is the US President - obviously, a very powerful position, so why would he lack confidence?

• Deception: Hands held beneath the table for this length of time during any kind of meeting, negotiation, sale, courtroom scenario, etc., is a gargantuan red flag. If you see it, look out - you may be about to get skinned.

• Medical Etiology: Donald Trump very likely has a movement disorder, tremor, or tremor-like condition (caused by a Central Nervous System Disorder or a drug side effect). He has recently had trouble holding drinking glasses/bottles, patted his chest during the national anthem, and could not hold still during public prayers. Please see the following recent relevant cross-references:


Body Language Analysis No.4156: President Trump's Cabinet Meeting - Crossing Arms and Excessive Motion

Body Language Analysis No. 4154: Donald Trump's Two-Handed Drinking

Body Language Analysis No. 4151: Donald Trump at FBI National Academy Graduation
 
Body Language Analysis No. 4157: Donald Trump, Signing the Tax Bill, and Double-Arm Gripping


Summary: Donald Trump's lack of hand exposure above the table is secondary to a medical condition, deception, and/or low confidence.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4167: Gary Oldman, Hugh Jackman, and Compliments

Body Language Analysis No. 4165: Kim Jong-un's New Years Faux Pas

Body Language Analysis No. 4162: Is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Going to Run for President in 2020?

Body Language Analysis No. 4158: Michelle Williams regarding Kevin Spacey - "All the Money in the World"

Body Language Analysis No. 4155: Luis Elizondo Interview - Former Military Intelligence Official Who Ran AATIP (The Pentagon's Secret UFO Unit)


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3754: Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

This image of President-Elect Donald Trump, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence - was taken on Thursday in the US Capitol.

An important nonverbal guideline is to (almost) never put your hands beneath the table or desk at which you're sitting (An exception for this principle would include; if a person is being reprimanded by their supervisor, if the table/desk is too high, or a person may be relatively short - or other such configurations which are physically awkward. Sometimes it's also best to sit/lean back, in which case their hands/arms wouldn't be on the table/desk [if the meeting is be relatively casual and/or if you're the relative alpha personality in the room]).

However if you're any kind of leader, perceive yourself as a leader, or you want to project the alpha qualities of strength, assertiveness and engagement - your arms and hands should always be on top of the table.

Outside the exceptions of those mentioned above, when a person's arms/hands are beneath a table/desk - the most favorable interpretation is that of significant anxiety. The worst possible interpretation (depending on the other nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage signals with which it's clustered) is clandestine behavior and dishonesty.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3753: Donald Trump in The White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3735: Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Mean Tweets 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3706: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debates - Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3672: Jessica Alba, Swass, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3635: Michelle Obama's DNC Speech and a Body Language Mistake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3594: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Fareed Zakaria


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3592: Gary Johnson, The Libertarian Party and Beta Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Gary Johnson, the 2016 Libertarian Candidate for President is featured in the above video with Erin Burnett. During the interview, whenever the camera pans out to a wider angle, we can see that the former Governor of New Mexico is wearing his Nike's.

Now if he were campaigning at a state fair or baseball game, it would be very contextual for Governor Johnson to wear athletic shoes - if he also had on jeans and a casual shirt. But in the CNN studio while wearing a suit and tie, he never should have on these shoes. We all like comfort, but appearing in such footwear with a suit during an interview in NO WAY projects presidential power. It is possible that Gov. Johnson was told or believed that the camera would only include his head and torso - yet this two term governor is not a political rookie and should never had made such a mistake. In addition, he should also know that such a casual off-camera persona directly affects the manner in which anyone - including how news professionals will treat him.

Notice also that Gov. Johnson's ankles are crossed. If we were to ask him about this he'd probably say, "Well this was comfortable" - or something similar. Yet with respect to nonverbal communication, in order for one to be physically comfortable, they must first be emotionally comfortable. This is a significantly Beta Body Language configuration. It projects a lower confidence level and tentativeness. Moreover, if alternatively he would have had one foot resting on each of two adjacent legs - along with leaning and sitting slightly forward in his chair - it would have not only looked more action-oriented, confident, strong and assertive, but such body language would have also increased his confidence level along with engendering both the fluidity of the candidate's thinking as well as his speaking (which certainly helps when you're being interviewed on national TV).

Beginning at 4:33, Johnson says, "Well one of my sssstrengths isss that I, I tell the truth ..."

Note the candidate's excessive stuttering during his declaration of honesty. This is a red flag of low confidence, anxiety - and in this context it's highly consistent with deception.

This image was captured during the last moment of him uttering, "truth" - yet Governor Johnson's eyes open very widely along with him elevating the entire width of his forehead. This is the nonverbal equivalent of a person using five exclamation marks when, in moments of sincerity, only one is needed. It's a very common body language example of over-compensatory behavior. Unbeknownst to most politicians and high-level sales professionals this sends signals of INsincerity. It destroys rapport rather than building it.

During a significant fraction of this interview, Gary Johnson has his hands positioned on his lap with the majority of them below the level of the desk. This is a major nonverbal faux pas. At the very least it transmits lower confidence levels and relative timidity. Depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered, this can also be indicative of deception. Never commit this error during a job interview - or when you're running for president.

These are just a few of the body language fumbles Gary Johnson made during this television appearance. If the Governor wants to poll above 15 percent - thus allowing him to participate in the debates with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump - he simply can't afford to make these rookie mistakes.

This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3591: Jo Cox, The Brexit and Sincere Smiles - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3587: The Orlando Mass Shooting, Omar Mateen and Warning Signs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3446: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3412: Affluenza Teen Ethan Couch is on the Run

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3381: Ariana Grande, Flirtatious Body Language and the American Music Awards 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3355: Spin the Microphone on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show - Gwen Stefani is very attracted to Blake Shelton

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3583: Donald Trump, Reaching out to Bernie Sanders' Supporters and Insincerity Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3581: Hillary Clinton, Likability and Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3362: Marco Rubio and Alleged Misuse of State Party Credit Card - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Overall Marco Rubio has a significantly greater sincerity quotient than most of his Presidential-candidate peers (which will certainly benefit him in his pursuit as the Republican Nominee). Yet in this GMA interview, the U.S. Senator from Florida displays significant anxiety tells. And whenever people sense anxiety - it often calls into question their sincerity, likability, trust and leadership.

Beginning at about 2:00 - when George Stephanopoulos asks Senator Rubio about allegations regarding misuse of a Republican party credit card for personal use, Rubio displays a significant cluster of nonverbal behavior.

During 2:05 - 2:07 we see bilateral and multiple rapid blinking with deep inhalation and a leaning back in his chair.

Followed by a very evanescent Eye Roll (2:07) indicating an impatient dismissal with an element of contempt.

Then Rubio keeps his hands below the table. He should have been sitting closer to the so that he could more easily keep his hands above it. There is a strong tendency to not trust someone when their hands are hidden or less visible. This is particularly true in the dynamic context of responding to an accusation (Throughout much of this interview Rubio's hands were beneath the table - only his right hand was sometimes above it).

Rubio then has to clear his throat and performs a hard swallow.

In summary, although verbally Senator Rubio seems to explain this credit card situation well - his nonverbal behavior indicates his anxiety regarding it is disproportionately high - and he has significant impatience and contempt for those who raise questions regarding it.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3361: The Johnson Treatment - Body Language and Personal Space

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3273: Marco Rubio, The Republican Debate, Monotonous Body Language and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3154: Marco Rubio's Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2295:  Marco Rubio - Three Magazine Covers  Three Different Body Language Signals 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3325: Vladimir Putin, the United Nations, Russian Soil and Confidence Levels

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2831: "Walking Contest", Anxiety, Mirroring and False Intimacy  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3207: Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis and Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3226: Bobby Jindal Jumps In the 2016 Presidential Race - Puts "Family Meeting" online - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Bobby Jindal made it official today - he's running for President. He's the thirteenth republican to vie for the White House in the 2016 race. No one was surprised by this announcement - not even his family.

The current Governor of Louisiana's announcement is the most bizarre, low-energy, ill-advised and poorly thought-out modes of declaring candidacy ever seen for such a high office.

The 1:49 second video appears to be some semblance of a family-meeting, yet most of the family for the majority of the time was emotionally uncomfortable - including the candidate. The video seems to be clandestinely recorded. And while, as a campaign tactic, this certainly won't win him points with privacy advocates - it is creepy across the board (and whose foot is that on the far left of the video?).

The person we see the least of all is the Governor himself - as he positioned himself behind a tree limb. From a nonverbal perspective, this sends very strong signals of emotional dissonance - like a child hiding behind his mother's skirt at a public gathering, not wanting to be fully seen. This nonverbal alone projects very low confidence. In addition - it's a fundamental nonverbal axiom, that the less we see of a person - the less we trust them - which of course is congruent with the apparent secrecy. If he wanted to use such a video, he should have been seated facing the camera.

For about 5 seconds (0:30 - 0:35) the Governor leaned forward in his chair (when he said to his two sons not to tell to anyone at baseball or soccer - more than a bit ironic - holding his children to a different standard and letting everyone see this).

Mrs. Jindal maintained a position in the middle of her chair - not against its back, yet not fully forward either. Along with her hands hiding below the table - this cluster projects low emotional comfort and non-disclosure. She felt "on display" and with high likelihood had foreknowledge of the video. The Jindal son at the right was the only one seated significantly forward. He was also the only one with his hands above the table. The Governor displayed low-trust and high anxiety with his hands on the front of his thighs (briefly on his knees) throughout the video's duration. This MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) would also be a huge red-flag if this were a business meeting or negotiation.

If both parents would have been seated-forward at the table (taking a cue from their one son), then the other children would have been more engaged. This would also been more and engendered affection. Hugs, hand holding, high-fives, smiling and sincere laughter would have been spontaneous. The laughter here was in large majority nervous and lacking sincerity.

0:41, just after Gov. Jindal says, "... we have decided that we will be running for president this year."

Yet very low energy was projected by everyone.

0:45

Thumbs-up illustrator given by the son in the bright yellow-green shirt. He also appears to have a sincere smile when his mother asks, "What do you think about that?"

The Jindal's daughter displays a "hand-shrug" when her mom asks, "What about you?" - at 0:48.

In this context this body language indicates she isn't sure or she doesn't care. If the Governor wanted to show his children as part of this announcement for his candidacy for President of the United States - there's absolutely no way this universal nonverbal display should have been included.

In summary, Bobby Jindal sent strong signals of low confidence, low trust and secrecy on an occasion when he should have been projecting high confidence, assertiveness and openness. Moreover the family image and/or idea of the Governor as a loving family man backfired big-time with this heavily botched announcement.

Time for damage-control.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3225: Fox News Reporter Pete Hegseth Accidentally Hits Bystander While Throwing an Ax - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3224: Jordan Spieth, the U.S. Open, and a Classic Fear Expression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2657: Keanu Reeves's, "47 Ronin" and a Hesitancy to Discuss - a Key Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2595: Barack Obama's Emotional Dissonance, Low Confidence and the "Turtle Retreat" - He Does Not Want To Be There

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2939: Barack Obama in Tallinn, Estonia - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2016: Hillary Clinton, Roosevelt Island, Building Rapport and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3127: Hillary Clinton's Press Conference and a Body Language Down-regulator of Sincerity


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3207: Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis and Body Language (PHOTOS)

Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin later this week at the Vatican. No doubt the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria will be foremost on the Pope's mind. The above image was taken from their last meeting in November 2013.

Putin's facial expression in this moment displays a forehead contraction (across its entire width) together with partially closed upper eyelids. This nonverbal cluster sends signals of arrogance and impatient-dismissal (e.g., a la' Marshawn Lynch, "I'm just here so I don't get fined/more trade sanctions, etc.") - Emotions which Vladimir projects frequently.

Not to be overlooked is Vladimir's lack of hand visibility. In the best case scenario, when the hands are not visible or mostly covered, a person is projecting beta emotions and/or disengaged. In addition, those individuals in the process of lying will (subconsciously) very often keep their hands below the table or otherwise hidden. Those who wish to build rapport and engender trust should keep their hands in view.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3206: Kyrie Irving, NBA Finals, a Broken Knee Cap, Physical Pain & Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3184: Erin Andrews' Eye Roll upon and "Dancing with the Stars" semifinalist Noah Galloway proposing to his girlfriend Jamie Boyd live after he performing to "Time of My Life" - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3148: Tidal's (Re)Launch - Jay Z, Kanye West, Deadmau5 & Madonna - Four Different Standing Configurations - Four Different Thought-Emotions - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3083: Marshawn Lynch Interview, "I'm just here so I won't get fined" 

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