Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3728: Barack Obama Tells Donald Trump to Stop Whining - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today, during a press conference in the Rose Garden with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Barack Obama took a jab at Donald Trump. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the above video clip from that event.

At the very end of this video (beginning at 2:26), President Obama says, "And so - ah, I'd invite Mister Trump to stop whining and go try and make his case to get votes ...."

As he says, "Mister", President Obama displays a microexpression of contempt on the left side of his face (his left), which is relatively subtle.

A split second later as he says, "Stop", the President makes a more pronounced contempt display - this time on his right (again, a microexpression).

Both of these examples are not able to be fully appreciated via still images, therefore watching the video at 1/2 or 1/4 speed is highly recommended.

Notice that President Obama is leaning on his lectern with his right arm/elbow. This should never be done, particularly at the presidential level - unless of course one wishes to convey a lower energy, low assertiveness and casual sloppiness. This body configuration does not convey strength and is inconsistent with an alpha personality. Moreover, this body language is made even worse because the President is, to a degree, turning his back on Prime Minister Renzi.

Although there are exceptions to the rule, the vast majority of time, when speaking in any capacity at a lectern, podium, on stage, television, etc. the hands should be free of a pen (or pencil). One reason for this is the speaker may point with the sharp end of the pen - performing a surrogate of an index finger point. And while this while this doesn't have the full impact of pointing with that finger, it certainly is negatively received and should be strongly avoided.

Another common error while holding a pen is "clicking" it - or as President Obama did (during 0:23 - 0:26) uncapping and recapping it. This is a very distracting and a common rookie mistake - and yet here is one of the more accomplished speakers in the World making this error.

Of course, tomorrow night during the third and final of the 2016 Presidential Debates, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will probably occasionally be taking notes. In such a context it can serve to give the appearance of critical thinking (which of course is often also true) and can sometimes unnerve one's opponent.

There are also individuals (usually relative beginners) who feel uncomfortable speaking and will often admit, "I don't know what to do with my hands". Intriguingly, if one holds a pen (recommended to be small and capped with each end blunt) it often relaxes the hand, the whole arm - and even the shoulders as well as the opposite hand and arm. This trick is not recommended for everyone and must be approached with caution - as it's extremely easy to begin fiddling with the pen - thus backfiring the entire technique.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3727: Donald Trump and Children

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3725: Donald Trump Challenges Hillary Clinton to a Drug Test before Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3723: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - Body Language, Emotional Intelligence and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3721: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - The Handshake That Wasn't

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3702: Hillary Clinton: "Why aren't I 50 points ahead (of Trump)?''

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3681: Hillary Clinton's Low Transparency

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3664: Benjamin Netanyahu, Viktor Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3609: Emma Watson, Tina Turner, Ring Tones and Body Language


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3278: Chris Christie's Feeling Weak in the Knees - Body Language and The Republican Debate (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Chris Christie is not known for keeping his emotions concealed - and the first Republican Debate was no exception. In this example he's betrayed by his body language - and it's not what you may expect.

A friendly reminder: 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

Governor Christie does something that's quite rare in a debate - he leans on the lectern. Moreover this isn't done when the cameras are on another candidate - but when all attention is focused on him - during his answer.

Bret Baier begins, "Governor Christie, you’re not exactly the darling of conservatives. You tout your record as a Republican governor in a blue state. On Facebook, the most people talking about you, not surprisingly, come from your state of New Jersey, and one of the top issues they are talking about is the economy. This, this may be why, under your watch, New Jersey has undergone nine credit rating downgrades. The state’s 44th in private sector growth. You face an employee pension crisis and the Garden State has the third highest foreclosure rate in the country. So why should voters believe - that your management of the country’s finances - would be any different?"

At 0:43 Governor Christie answers, "If you think it’s bad now, you should’ve seen it when I got there."  (LAUGHTER), (APPLAUSE). [Christie then leans on lectern with his right forearm/elbow and shifts his weight, 0:45 - 1:01] Um, ya - fact is - fact is, in the eight years before I became governor, taxes and fees were raised at the state level 115 times. In the eight years before I became governor, spending was increased 56 percent. And in the eight years before I became governor, there was zero net private sector job growth in New Jersey. Zero. For eight years.  So, what did we do? We came in, we balanced an $11 billion deficit on a $29 billion budget by cutting over 800 programs in the state budget. We brought the budget into balance with no tax increases. In fact, we vetoed five income tax increases during my time as governor. We cut business taxes $2.3 billion, and we cut regulation by one-third of what my predecessor put in place.  And, what’s happened since? A hundred ninety-two thousand private sector jobs in the five and a half years I’ve been governor. We have a lot of work to do in New Jersey, but I am darn proud we’ve brought our state back."

In body language parlance, Governor Christie is using the lectern as a MAP surrogate (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) - and even momentary for direct physical support. This lectern-leaning may have appeared to some as a form of swagger, a type of sloppy nonchalance - yet this was far from it. The economy of New Jersey gave the Governor enough anxiety that his knees became weak. You can almost hear his heart palpitating and feel his blood pressure drop.

"Lean on me, when you're not strong. And I'll be your friend - I'll help you carry on ..."

Thus the lectern served the Governor in two ways - for temporary physical support until he gained psychological momentum with his answer - but also in lieu of rubbing the back of his neck, scratching his opposite shoulder, touching his forehead, etc. (none of which he should ever do in a public appearance, particularly during a national debate) - touching an inanimate physical object may also help to down-regulate one's anxiety level (although this is by no means an absolute).

Although he is proud of what he's done for the economics of New Jersey, Mr. Christie either feels he could/should have done more - and/or that this issue will hurt him significantly in his efforts to win the Republican nomination.

As usual, there is a multitude of body language displays in this short video and only one example is highlighted above.

A crucial take-home point here for the other presidential hopefuls: Gov. Christie feels vulnerable on his economic record. Exploit his Achilles' heel to your advantage (just be aware that your weaknesses are equally as visible).

Got body language?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3277: John Kasich reflecting on Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3233: Chris Christie formally enters the 2016 Presidential Race - What about his Body Language?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2674: Did Chris Christie Orchestrate Bridge Closure or Cover Up His Subordinates Actions? Body Language Tells Us ....  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3274: Chris Christie, Rand Paul, The Republican Debate and National Security 

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. 2906: President Obama, "... We Tortured Some Folks ..."  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2918: Lauren Bacall, Flirting and a "Come-hither look" 

________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2906: President Obama, "... We Tortured Some Folks ..." (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Friday, 1 August 2014, President Obama held a press conference. Among other issues he acknowledged that in the aftermath of 9/11, "... we tortured some folks ...".

Throughout the vast majority of this segment of this press conference, Barack Obama was leaning on the lectern with his right elbow. This is rare for a President - and President Obama in particular. It sends signals of a beta emotional tone, low confidence, low commitment, a lackadaisical mindset and low priority. Because of this posture, President Obama was only able to use his right hand minimally and it remained largely obscured to the audience and viewing public. The less we see of a person's hands - the less we trust them (e.g., held beneath a table during depositions, voir dire, interrogations, negotiations, during witness testimonies in court, etc.).

This is extremely poor nonverbal behavior for anyone to exhibit - especially a head-of-state - and particularly on such an important topic. It is indeed rare for Mr. Obama. He did display similar body language (see below) against Mitt Romney in the 2012 campaign during the first debate - and that was the one in which most agree Romney beat him hands down.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2137:  Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama - First Presidential Debate -  Barack's Bad Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2905: Paul George's Injury - a Common Body Language Signal of Emotional Processing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2150:  Body Language Advice for  President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2161:  Body Language of the Third Presidential Debate - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney -  What Did They Do With Their Hands  When They Weren't Talking?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2876: President Obama on Key Bridge regarding John Boehner's Lawsuit - "So Sue Me"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2807: Barack Obama at 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Body Language

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 337:  Low Confidence Stance - Michele Bachmann

 ________________________________________________________________________________