On Saturday 22 June 2024, during his event in Washington DC, Donald Trump defended accusations against him calling US military members "suckers and losers".
What follows are body language and statement analyses of this video clip.
Above is a shorter segment of Trump's behavior in this context. Here's a longer segment of this same statement/speech:
Note, in the first 2/3rds of the sentence, "I was better than any president ever to our military", Trump is retracting (flexing) the index finger (forefinger) of his right hand at the first joint past the knuckle (the proximal interphalangeal joint).
Trump is right-handed. With respect to body language, the index finger of the dominant hand is the most powerful and dominant digit on either hand.
In general, *without any accompanying spoken words* – retracting a hand (especially the dominant hand) and/or the index finger on either hand signals low confidence and high emotional discomfort. ...
...But, *when making a statement or answering a question* while retracting the most dominant digit on the dominant hand – is an extremely high indicator of lying. This is a common tell during deception – particularly with Trump.
If we look a few seconds earlier, as he says, "I'm the exact [self-interruption]", Trump briefly displays the same dominant index finger retraction body language.
Even earlier in the video he displays this once again as he says, "by a third rate magazine". Trump is lying and does not believe this to be true.
It's important to contrast this with other occasions during this same clip, when Trump's hand was oppositely configured – retracting (flexing) all the other digits on his right hand while extending his dominant index finger (aka index finger pointing).
Index finger pointing is hyper-dominant and offensive. It's negatively received across all cultures. But, not surprisingly, it's *frequently* used by those with manipulative and pathological personalities.
Now contrast these two body language signals. The dominant-finger-retraction-tell (retracting dominance) has the opposite configuration of an index finger point (projecting dominance).
Did you notice Trump's facial expression at about 1 second before the very end of this video? He displays a Tight Tongue Jut – signaling his disdain, disgust, and repulsion.
Be careful not to confuse a Tight Tongue Jut with a Loose Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut – as these indicate completely different thought-emotions.
During the entire speech, in his effort to refute the story, when referring to the fallen military heroes, Trump repeated "suckers and losers" multiple times.
This is a common sadist's/manipulator's trick – under the guise of defending themselves, they poke the original wound over and over.
Thereby giving themselves license to repeat their original insult several times and re-inflicting verbal injury – whilst they're experiencing sadistic joy.
Moreover, note that Donald Trump *never* speaks John Kelly's name (his first Chief-of-Staff) as the source/witness of the accusations. He only mentions "The Atlantic" Magazine who printed the story.
Trump then outs himself again – for while maligning "The Atlantic" magazine, referring to (but not naming outright) Laurene Powell Jobs (Steve Jobs' widow), he says, "They got lucky, they got some sucker to fund it for a little while, some stupid sucker."
So in the very midst of his denying calling fallen military "suckers and losers", Trump proceeds to twice call a widow a "sucker" as well as "dumb" and "stupid" – while showing profound disrespect toward another deceased person – Steve Jobs.
This is a massive Freudian slip and self-own. Trump is saying he would never say these things about the dead – and then while defending himself, he openly disrespects the dead and calls someone else a "sucker".
The importance of the word "sucker" in these contexts cannot be overstated.
A person who *repeatedly* sees others as "suckers" is a con man.
To add insult to injury, Trump says, "she took his money". This level of misogyny is light years beyond the pale.
Trump also displays another Tight Tongue Jut (disdain, disgust, repulsion) after he says, "you dumb – I shoulda never ..." (directed at Laurene Powell Jobs).
Contrast this against the Loose Tongue Jut (§) that Trump displayed when he said "I woulda said that woulda [sic] been, ahhh [§], justified for somebody to start taking swings at me – as president".
A Loose Tongue Jut indicates:
• Deception • "I've been bad" • "I just said/about to say a stupid thing" • "I've been/about to be caught"
Note also, Trump *never* says "I didn't say that" (or similar). He doesn't deny it. Instead he says, "Who would do such a thing?", and "You say it's not true" (not, "It's not true"), and "Who would say it?"
When Trump also says, "There's nobody that's stupid enough to make that statement" – he's angry at himself for being this "stupid" – to let his true feelings be shown, especially to John Kelly (whose son was killed in battle in Afghanistan).
Trump fears John Kelly.
Trump also said, "Even if you hated the military, you wouldn't say that".
This is another example of Trump, while under the guise of defending himself – stating what he actually thinks and how he truly feels.
When Trump said, "Looking down, at graves, saying suckers, they make it up, suckers and losers", he is reliving his original disparaging events at Arlington National Cemetery and at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France.
Trump's palm-down, fingers splayed display is a dominant display of subjugation and control. He is painting a false scenario – Trump is reliving these actual cemetery events (as he again calls them "suckers and losers").
SUMMARY: While we can certainly fact-check this story by other means (John Kelly, you're long overdue for a video interview), Donald Trump's body language tells us General Kelly's account of the facts are true: Trump did call fallen military heroes "suckers and losers".
Moreover, Donald Trump feels disdain, disgust, and repulsion toward – as well as subjugation and control over – members of the military.
Trump also fears John Kelly.
Additionally, Trump also feels disdain, disgust, and repulsion toward Laurene Powell Jobs. He also demonstrates deep misogyny toward Ms. Powell Jobs – as well as exhibiting a profound disrespect toward Steve Jobs.
While in the very act of trying to refute allegations of him calling fallen military heroes "suckers and losers", Trump uses some of the exact same language ("sucker") toward Ms. Powell Jobs and profoundly disrespects the deceased (Steve Jobs). Trump is telling on himself.
Inquiries regarding teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, consulting, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com
On Wednesday 14 February 2018, Vice President Pence was asked about John Kelly's handling of the trouble associated with Rob Porter. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of some specific moments of this exchange.
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE (beginning at 0:01): Well this administration has no tolerance [deep exhalation] - for domestic violence - nor should any - American. And as I said, and as the White House has said, ah, ah, ah, I, I think the White House could have handled his better. And I still feel that way. And that being said, um [deep inhalation], any more counsel I have on this, I'll, I'll share with the President of the United States.
JOURNALIST: Are you a hundred percent confident that General Kelly has been fully honest and transparent in his explanation of Rob [inward lip roll] Porter's departure?
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: [deep inhalation] Ω There are very few [high pitch/mild voice crack] Americans or American families - that have served this nation more honorably - or sacrificed more for this country - than the family of General John Kelly. John Kelly's service in uniform, his distinguished service, ah, at our Department of Homeland Security where we saw dramatic reduction of illegal crossings at our southern border [deep inhalation] and his distinguished service as Chief of Staff - ah, gives me and the President great confidence (1:08) - in this good man. And I want the American people to know - not just John Kelly [deep inhalation] but family members in uniform - here - and gone - have served this nation with a love, a patriotism, and a passion - that should inspire us all.
JOURNALIST: So it sounds like you think he should stay.
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE:[deep inhalation] John Kelly, ah, has a remarkable job, (1:33) as Chief of Staff for President of the United States, ah, and, ah, I look, I look forward to continuing to work with him, ah, for many, many months to come. (1:40 - 1:44)
During 0:30 - 0:31, the Vice President exhibits a good example of an Inward Lip Rolljust after the journalist says, "Are you a hundred percent confident
that General Kelly has been fully honest and transparent ..."
An Inward Lip Roll (ILR) indicates the suppressing of strong emotions so that they won't crescendo internally - and so they won't be manifested outwardly.
During 0:33 (notated by the Ω symbol), just prior to answering the journalist, Mike Pence displays a classic expression of regret with the left corner of his mouth. Simultaneously, he is looking down and to his right - the quadrant of gaze commonly associated with deep emotional states - such as regret and sadness.
At multiple crucial times during his statement, Mike Pence shook his head in a side-to-side classic illustrator/gesture/head shaking signifying No - when this action contradicted his positive verbal statements such as:
"... gives me and the President great confidence (1:08) - in this good man ..."
"... John Kelly, ah, has a remarkable job, (1:33) as Chief of Staff for President of the United States..."
"... I look forward to continuing to work with him, ah, for many, many months to come." (1:40 - 1:44)
Notice too, how the Vice President did not want to discuss the topics of Rob Porter or John Kelly - attempting to evade questions by saying, "And that being said, um [deep inhalation], any more counsel I have
on this, I'll, I'll share with the President of the United States."
Moreover, and very tellingly, the Vice President simply did not answer the questions which were asked.
Summary: Based on the Vice President's verbal, nonverbal, and paralanguage behavior exhibited in this video, Mike Pence believes that John Kelly was NOT being "... fully honest and transparent in his explanation of Rob Porter's departure". In addition, Pence's tells strongly suggests that Pence believes John Kelly will not be White House Chief of Staff much longer.
Was Omarosa Manigault Newman Fired or did she resign? The reality TV star who, up until recently was a top-level advisor to President Trump, gave an interview on Good Morning America on Thursday 14 December 2017. What follows is a partial nonverbal and paralanguage analysis of the above video.
MICHAEL STRAHAN [beginning at 2:30]: ... Let's get straight to it -
OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: I resigned, ahumπ - and I didn't do that in the residence - as been reported. John Kelly and I sat down in the situation room - which is a very secure, very quiet room in the White House - and we had a very candid conversatiant [mispronounced "conversation"] - [shaking head up and down] and I wanted to make the one-year mark∆ - that [shaking head no] was one of the goals that I set out to § - and then get back to my life.
MICHAEL STRAHAN: So you resigned. You weren't fired as, as has people reported?
OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: [over-talking] No - and you know I, I li-, I like to hear all of these interesting tales, but I have to tell you that - they're a hundred percent false. One of the things that I'd ask of those people who are making those assertions, since they assert that I did it so publicly - is where are the pictures or videos? If I had confronted John Kelly - who is a very formidable person Ω, ahum, it would garner enough attention for anyone in the room to at least take a picture or video or something. The assertion that I would do that in front of six hundred guests at a Christmas party and no one has reported that except for one individual who has a personal vendetta against me ∂ And so I, I have to tell you - completely false, unverified reporting - and John Kelly and I had a very straightforward discussion about concerns that I had, issues that'd I raised, and as a result, I resigned and it will be taking place January 20th when I leave this very interesting administration.
MICHAEL STRAHAN: So what you're saying that all these reports are coming from one person, but you speak of -
OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN [over-talking]: One person, no - let's, let's be clear - only one person -
MICHAEL STRAHAN: Only one person -
OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: No one else has reported what she's reporting - and this is the one person who has attacked me for the last year -
MICHAEL STRAHAN: and -
OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: and so you know that this is personal....
At the very beginning of this exchange (2:33 - 2:36), as Omarosa says, "I resigned, ahum- and I didn't do that in the residence" - she has ZEROeye contact.
Moreover, as she says, "ahum" (2:34 notated by π ), she displays very rapid blinking (involuntary). This is a nonspecific signal of increased anxiety.
Note from 2:47 to 2:50, When she is saying, "... and I wanted to make the one-year mark ..." she shakes her head up and down [in a classic "yes" illustrator] - she then makes a regret expression as the right corner of her mouth contracts directly laterally (in the image immediately above during 2:50 - this is a subtle but classic microexpression notated by ∆). She then moves her head side-to-side [shaking her head "no"], as she says, "... was one of the goals ...", during 2:51 - 2:52.
Why did she suddenly change from a "yes" shaking - to a "no" head shaking? This nonverbal display contradicts her verbal statement. When these two categories of behavior are in disagreement - it's the body language which always tells the truth.
Please watch this segment of the video at regular speed and again at 1/2 speed as these dynamics cannot all be captured with still images.
Notice also, during 2:47, Omarosa mispronounces "conversation" as "conversatiant".
During 2:53, just after she says, "... that I set out to ...", Omarosa displays an evanescent asymmetry in her mouth (pictured immediately above). Suddenly speaking out of one side of the mouth is a sign of Insincerity and/or Bravado/Hubris (notated by § ).
She displayed this particular nonverbal display multiple times (how many others did you see?).
From 2:57 - 3:04, as Ms. Manigault Newman answers Mr. Strahan saying, "No - and you know I, I li-, I like to hear all of these interesting
tales..." during this entire seven seconds - she has ZERO eye contact with him (with her eyes mostly closed looking down to her left). In the context of denying an allegation, lack of eye contact during this crucial juncture is highly indicative of deception.
Moreover, during this same time, Omarosa's hands were gesturing rapidly, in an out-of-sync manner with respect to her verbal cadence (her hands are somewhat obscured by GMA banner). This high frequency, nonverbal-verbal disparity is indicative of anxiety and in this context is highly suggestive of deception.
Just after she says, "... If I had confronted John Kelly - who is a very formidable person ...", Omarosa displays a Tight Tongue Jut (3:20 notated by Ω ).
A Tight Tongue Jut conveys thought-emotions of Disdain, Disgust, and Repulsion - which are indeed Omarosa's feelings for John Kelly.
During 3:37 (notated by ∂ ) just after she said, "... except for one individual who has a personal vendetta against me ...", she displays a dramatic, but very brief (ergo a "Microexpression) "Forward Lip Purse".
Forward Lip Pursing is a signal of Clandestine Disagreement and/or Clandestine Plans. Omarosa has a vendetta of her own - and she's got a plan to implement it. She also believes that she's the relative alpha (to her perceived adversary's relative beta status) - and, in her opinion, the odds of her carrying through with her plans are high.
A few of the many Paralanguage tells of Ms. Manigault Newman include:
Why did she switch tenses when she said, I resigned (past tense) and it will be taking place January 20th (future tense)?
Why did she say, "... unverified reporting ...", rather than false reporting? The word "unverified" is not a descriptor she would use if she knew the reporting to be false.
Why, after Michael Strahan said, "So what you're saying that all these reports are coming from one person, but you speak of " - did Ms. Manigault Newman then feel the need to correct him by restating the essentially the same thing, "One person, no - let's, let's be clear - only one person" - Why? Yet earlier in the same conversation she referred to her antagonists in the plural saying, "... those people who are making those assertions, since they assert ..."
Summary: Omarosa Manigault Newman left her post at the White House involuntarily. She was fired (or told, "If you don't resign, you're going to be fired"). She has feelings of disdain, disgust, and repulsion for John Kelly. She has her own vendetta (and a plan) against a female senior staff member at the White House - and while this person may have been her most vocal critic, Omarosa's had multiple foes in the West Wing.
Last night Chief of Staff John Kelly was a guest on Fox News. A portion of that interview is included in the MSNBC video above (Fox has not yet posted a YouTube source). Some of the White House Chief of Staff's comments regarding Robert E. Lee and the American Civil War have drawn considerable criticism. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this section of the interview.
JOHN KELLY (beginning at 0:55): Ah, I will tell ya that, that Robert E. Lee was an honorable man. [Deep inhalation] Ahhh, H, He was a man that ah, gave up, ah, gave up his - country to fight for his state which in, a hundred 'n' fifty years ago was more important that country - it was always loyalty to state first back in those days. [∑, Deep inhalation] Ah, now where it's different - today [Deep inhalation]. Ahhhh, but that, that, thee, the lack of an ability to compromise Ω ah, led to the Civil War. And, ahum, men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscious, ahum, had them make their stand...
Getting historical facts accurate is of the utmost importance (lest we rationalize what we want to be true) - but in the context of this article we're analyzing Nonverbal behavior (not history) - thus there's a profound distinction to be made: True history versus what John Kelly believes to be the true history.
Just after John Kelly says, "... it was always loyalty to state first back in those days ...", he inhales deeply and shrugs both shoulders (during 1:11 and notated by ∑ in the above transcript). In this context, his Shoulder Shrug indicates the thought-emotions of: "What could I do?", "What difference does it make?"
Please watch the video as the still image does not capture the dynamic and subtle nature of this nonverbal display.
A few seconds later (during 1:18 and notated above by Ω ) just after he says, "... Ahhhh, but that, that, thee, the lack of an ability to compromise" and just before he said, " ... ah, led to the Civil War", John Kelly displays a "Loose Tongue Jut" (not to be confused with a "Tight Tongue Jut" which has a completely different meaning). A loose tongue jut indicates the thought-emotions of: "I've just been bad", "I'm about to be bad", or "I just got/about to be caught" (Navarro). It's a body language manifestation of one's psyche scolding its owner for their own bad behavior.
Summary: John Kelly does, in fact, truly believe that Robert E. Lee was an honorable man - he's not political posturing here. However, a moment later, Chief of Staff Kelly was indeed lying when he said, "the lack of an ability to compromise, ah, led to the Civil War". He does not believe this.
JOHN KELLY (beginning at 0:00): "I would just offer to you that, ah, although I read it all the time, a-, pretty consistently, I -, I'm not quitting today. Ahhhhum, ∑, I, I don't believe and I just talked to the President - I don't think I'm being fired todayahhhhum, and ahhhh, I am not so frustrated in this job that, ahhhh, I'm thinking of leaving. I'll tell you, this is ---- the hardest job I've ever had Ω - ahhh, this is, in my view, the most important job I've ever had. Ah, I would offer though, it is not the best job I ever had. Best job I ever had, as I've said many times, is when I was an enlisted marine, sergeant, infantryman - that was the best job I ever had. So, ah, unless things change - I'm not, ahum, quitting. I'm not getting fired ∆. And, ahhh, I don't think I'll fire anyone tomorrow."
During 0:08, as he says, "... I -, I'm not quitting today, Ahhhhum...", John Kelly first makes the expression captured in the photo above. This face shows a combination of Regret, Disgust, and Contempt.
Only a second later (during 0:09 and notated by ∑ ), he then makes the expression of pure Regret.
As he says, "... and I just talked with the President ...", Kelly interlaces his fingers in a hand-clenching variation - indicative of Frustration.
During 0:14 - just after he says, "... I don't think I'm being fired today, ahhhhum...", Kelly displays Regret once more.
During 0:16, as he says, "... and ahhhh, I am not so frustrated in this job that, ahhhh, I'm thinking of leaving...", the White House Chief of Staff again displays a deep expression of combined Regret, Disgust, and Contempt.
During 0:26, just after he says, "... this is ---- the hardest job I've ever had ..." (notated by Ω ), John Kelly displays another expression of Regret, this time combined with Disgust.
During 0:48, as he says, "... So, ah, unless things change - I'm not, ahum, quitting....", we see yet another display of Regret combined with Disgust.
During 0:50, just after he says, "... I'm not getting fired ..." (notated by a ∆), COS Kelly displays a "Loose Tongue Jut", indicating the thought-emotions, of "I've been bad", "I've been caught", and similar. In this context, this indicates either deception, over-stepping on Kelly's part - and/or his feelings toward making such a declaration on the record (Take care not to confuse this with a "Tight Tongue Jut" - which has a completely different meaning).
Summary: At multiple times during his press briefing yesterday, Chief of Staff John Kelly displayed Disgust, Contempt, and Regret. He also either told a lie, felt he was over-stepping, and/or doing something wrong when making the statement, "... I'm not getting fired ...".
It's profoundly important to correlate nonverbal signals with paralanguage and verbal behavior. In that light, it's noteworthy that many of John Kelly's body language signals occurred simultaneous with the filler words, "ahum" or "ahhh". This interrelationship is no coincidence. As you increase your nonverbal prowess, these auditory markers will help you better recognize the accompanying nonverbal signals.
Prefacingstatements such as, "I don't think" (I'm being fired today) and "unless things change" (I'm not, ahum, quitting. I'm not getting fired) - as well as his qualifying uses of the word "today" - are non-declarative, lack confidence, and are particularly telling - signaling John Kelly's feelings of unpredictability with the Trump Administration.
