Body Language Analysis No. 4727: Donald Trump deception – claiming to "put America first" – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

 

The above video clip is from Trump's appearance in Clinton, Iowa on January 6th 2024 – three years to the day after his attempt at insurrection. What follows is a body language analysis of crucial tells Trump displayed during this segment.

Note that just after the video begins (0:01), we see a brief display of what is known as a Loose Tongue Jut – a nonverbal signal of:

• Deception
• "I just said/about to say a stupid thing"
• "I've been/about to be caught"
• "I've been bad"

Be careful not to confuse a Loose Tongue Jut with a Tight Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut – as these indicate completely different thought-emotions. 

Then Trump says (0:1 - 0:4), "Unlike every other candidate in this race, with me you know, ..."

As he says this Trump twists his torso several times. In this context, this twisting is indicative of anxiety associated with Deception.

As you rewatch this video segment, please recall the expressions: "Twisting yourself into a pretzel", "Twisting the Truth", "Twisted Lies", etc. 

Note also, that whilst he's twisting his torso, Trump also displays a facial expression indicating an amalgam of both Contempt and Disgust.

Then Trump continues, "... in your heart, that I will always put America first – which I will, I think I've proven that...". Note that just after Trump says, "first", he shrugs (0:07) with both shoulders (more pronounced on his right [because that shoulder is lower due to his turn/twisted torso]).

Whenever Shoulder Shrugging should never be seen when a person is making a declarative statement ("...I will always put America first ..."), you know that they don't believe whatever they just said/are saying. 

This is also a good example of the verbal language disagreeing with the nonverbal language – in such cases, it's the nonverbal message that speaks the truth.

Did you notice Trump's eye closure during his shoulder shrugging? This signals yet another signal of lying – momentary lack of eye contact during the lie.

A second later is a great example of a Statement Analysis tell – with Trump's use of "I think I've proven that" (rather than "I've proven that" or "I know I've proven that") a hedging statement which betrays his low confidence and deception.

SUMMARY: In this 9 second clip, we see Donald Trump display 4 nonverbal signals/supportive signals and one verbal (statement analysis) sign of Deception – as well as his display of Contempt and Disgust.

All professionals, individuals, and businesses/organizations who want to (need to) dramatically improve their Body Language skills and nuance their understanding of Emotional Intelligence please email me: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com Group and individual sessions available.

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3272: Donald Trump, Megyn Kelly, Deception and Misogyny (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Just when you thought it couldn't get any stranger - during a CNN interview yesterday, Donald Trump implied the reason he felt Megyn Kelly was giving him difficult questions during the first Republican Presidential debate was because she was menstruating (Note the expression of contempt Governor Scott Walker has toward Trump).

" ... you know she, she gets out and she starts asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions and you know you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, ah, blood coming out of her - where ever." 

Here is an audio segment of that phone interview:




Many have called for Donald to be excluded from Republican Party activities and this may very well be Trump's tipping point.

Erick Erickson, the organizer of the Red State Gathering in Atlanta, has rescinded Mr. Trump's invitation to the event. Trump was to speak Saturday (today) at the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the Gathering. Mr. Erickson said, "While Mr. Trump resonates with a lot of people with his bluntness, including me to a degree, there are just real lines of decency a person running for President should not cross."..... "His comment was inappropriate. It is unfortunate to have to disinvite him. But I just don’t want someone on stage who gets a hostile question from a lady and his first inclination is to imply it was hormonal. It just was wrong.”

Flashback to the prior night during the first Republican Presidential Debate:





MEGYN KELLY: "Mr. Trump - one of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don’t use a politician’s filter. However, that is not without its downsides, in particular, when it comes to women.  You’ve called women you don’t like 'fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.' "

(AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)  "Your Twitter account…"

DONALD TRUMP: "Only Rosie O’Donnell."  (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)

KELLY: "No, it wasn’t.  (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)  Your Twitter account…"  (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: "Thank you."

KELLY: "For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O’Donnell."

TRUMP: "Yes, I’m sure it was."

KELLY: "Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice, 'it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees.' Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?"

TRUMP: "I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct.  I've been (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE) I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China. We lose to Mexico both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody.  And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding. We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that." (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)

"But you know what, we — we need strength, we need energy, we need quickness and we need brain in this country to turn it around. That, I can tell you right now."

During the 1:51 - 1:52 segment (please watch video), immediately after he says, "... But I wouldn't do that ...", Mr. Trump displays a particularly prolonged episode of eyelid closure. He also has multiple similar extended duration blinking episodes during the ensuing paragraph.

Increased frequency of blinking (above baseline for the person in question) is a well-documented nonverbal indicator of anxiety and although it may be a component of a deception cluster, it can also be seen during moments of honest nervousness. Such long duration eyelid closing however - when in context of a declarative statement, (e.g., "... But I wouldn't do that ...") is a much stronger indicator of a lying. We had to wait less than a day for Mr. Trump to prove the reliability of this tell of betrayal.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3271: Donald Trump, Smiling out of Context and Running as an Independent - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2945: Roger Goodell's Interview regarding Ray Rice - Denies NFL saw Video before Monday

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3062: Phylicia Rashad interview regarding Bill Cosby

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3081: More Bill Belichick Body Language Deception Deflategate Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2745: Vladimir Putin Deception regarding Crimea

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3181: Cristiano Ronaldo defends Japanese boy on TV - Body Language of Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2400:  One Way Deception Could be Minimized in the Court Room -  O.J. Simpson's in Court  


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3154: Marco Rubio's Body Language Tell (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

A 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.

Yesterday Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) announced his candidacy for the 2016 Presidency of the United States. Without a doubt, the junior Senator from Florida needs to improve his nonverbal skills - and while he has and continues to commit his share (or more) of faux pas, yesterday he displayed an example of a body language signal - of which its underlying emotion we need to see much more of in politics.

The above video is an edited portion of Senator Rubio's announcement. These three images are taken from the very beginning portion.

This first image was captured at 0:08, just as he finished up the word, "... States ..."

At 0:09, Senator Rubio closes his eyelids in an extended blink as his face blushes and he suppresses a sincere smile.











Senator Rubio then looks down to his right (still 0:09 and for several seconds thereafter).

In the great majority of right-handed people, when they look down to the right when they are emotionally processing of someone or something close to their heart - a person, an idea, image, repercussion, memory, etc. His prolonged eyelid closure and blushing are also congruent nonverbal displays.

Whether you agree with a person's politics or not, it's important to always strive to be objective ("Rationalization is THE great human sport." S.King). More specifically, when assessing any politician - such attempts at objectivity should always involve separating political opinions from character issues. And while no candidate is perfect - in this moment, this particular politician is projecting a very human emotion - he is humbled by what he is undertaking.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3153: Jodi Arias gets a Life Sentence Without Parole for Killing Travis Alexander - a Body Language Warning Signal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3134: Ted Cruz to Announce his Candidacy for 2016 Presidential Race - Why He Will Never Win - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2204:  Kate Winslet's Body Language Shows  Disgust, Humility and Sincerity Over Award

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2459:  Was Eliot Spitzer Sincere?  Apology, Sincerity and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1600: Senator Marco Rubio - Sincerity, Self-directed Incredulity & Humor, Blocking and Appeals for the Vice Presidency


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2676: Nancy Pelosi, Chris Christie, Bling and a Handkerchief (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday at a Press conference Ms. Nancy Pelosi (D - CA) was asked about Chris Christie's latest trouble. Her response provides some fantastic body language tells.

At 0:14, Ms. Pelosi is seen displaying a "Tongue Jut" (aka "Lizard Tongue"). This is a highly classic nonverbal signal indicating the emotional context accompanying the following thought-feelings: "I did/am about to do a foolish thing", I got away with something", "I've got (about to get) caught" or "I've been (I am) bad". When clustered with other nonverbals, it's a body language expression which can also indicate excitement or self-deprecating humor.

Ms. Pelosi's juts her tongue about 4 seconds after she hears Chris Christie's name. In this moment she is formulating her response - and this expression shows us that she's about to sling mud (as well a self-critique of what she's about to say).

Here is a statement analysis (language analysis) pearl: A second later at 0:15, as Ms. Pelosi begins her answer, the first word she uses is "actually". Although it's a very common word, whenever the answer to a question begins with the word "actually" (e.g. the very first word in the response), the answer which follows has an extremely high likelihood of being a lie. Ms. Pelosi goes on to example this principle as she speaks about her "concerned about transportation to the Super Bowl" of the San Francisco 49ers.

The California democrat then supplies Saturday Night Live with fodder as she shows off bling of her charm bracelet ("... You probably were noticing I'm have an extraordinary amount of bling ..."). This was not however what it may look like. Ms. Pelosi used the next 30 seconds to formulate her answer to the reporter's question regarding Governor Chris Christie and the Bridge lane closure scandal. She was stalling for time.

What other nonverbal stalling techniques do politicians (or witnesses, those being uncomfortably vetted, spouses, students, criminals, CEOs in the midst of crisis management, etc.) use to gain more time to think of the "right answer"?

During 0:43 to 0:46, the House Minority Leader exhibits a prolonged bilateral tight eyelid closure (along other nonverbals). In this context this expression indicates emotional processing associated with embarrassment. She just finished rambling (see below) about her bracelet and the San Francisco 49ers - and she is realizing how foolish this looked.

At 0:46 Ms. Pelosi continues,
"... I won't, I wouldn't think of getting involved in that discussion except to say [long nose wipe during 0:50 - 51] that the outrage that the governor demonstrated this morning I think was - or was it yesterday - whenever it was, we saw it this morning ah, was certainly justified um, I don't, I don't know that much about it you're right it's not, it's not part of my responsibility, ah, but I do know that ah, that if it were a democratic governor, I can just imagine, ah what,[stunted laughter] ah Chris Christie would be doing under the circumstances. Can you? Can you just see it? Can you just see what he'd be doing if ah? And little, a little ethnicity involved in some ah, some of the emails. Very interesting. That's all I know."

Here Ms. Pelosi's nose no doubt itches (via the release of natriuretic polypeptide b - also called Nppb) - and/or probably feels like it is running a bit. Such a nose rub in the context of answer a specific question or declarative statement is highly indicative of a lie. This certainly explains her anxiety and subsequent nose itch. She says, "... I won't, I wouldn't think of getting involved in that discussion ..." - yet she goes on to immediately get involved in the discussion.

See also:

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. 2673: New Jersey Bridge Closing - Fort Lee, NJ Mayor Mark Sokolich - What His Body Language Says about His Feelings towards Governor Chris Christie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2156:  Barack Obama's Body Language at Al Smith Charity Dinner -  Comedy, White Lies and Facial Touching MAPs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2576: Chris Brown's Body Language - a Signal of Psyche's Suppressing Emotions ... and Anger and .... 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2564: Hillary Clinton Stumping for Terry McAuliffe ... but Did She Hint at Running in 2016? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2547: Amanda Knox's ex-Boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, Piers Morgan Interview, Body Language Tells and Avoiding the Othello Error

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2620: President Obama Tells a Couple Fibs - "Norming" Barack's Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2342: Barack Obama at Jerusalem Convention Center in Israel What the President's Body Language Says to a Heckler

Yesterday the U.S. President revealed two key emotion-thoughts via his body language during his speech at the Jerusalem Convention Center.

First:

Mr. Obama is telling lie - a small lie - but none the less he is still lying. Touching one eye (here the brow at 0:59) during a statement or when answering a factual question is highly indicative of a lie. Though POTUS knows everyone is aware he is joking-lying when he says, " I have to say we actually arranged for that because it made me feel at home", it is still displayed with this nonverbal flag of deception (be wary, for touching both eyes simultaneously has a completely different meaning).

Second:

He is using his middle finger in this MAP (manipulator, adaptor, pacifier). Thus he is "flipping off" the heckler/protester at the same time he prepares to tell his joke-lie. This is but one example of a "Partial Emblematic Slip" (Ekman) wherein the Emblem (here "The Bird") is only displayed in an abbreviated fashion and not in its typical conscious display - for this nonverbal subconsciously initiate and displayed (as 99.9+% are).

The President (like all of us) tend to commit these (and similar tells) with our non-dominant hands when the lie is small (here he uses his right, non-dominant hand) and our dominant hands for higher levels of deception. 

Here, as part of this "Deception Cluster", the President bites his right lower lip as he prepares to lie at the 1:00 mark.

Prolonged eyelid closure is manifested as the lip bite continues - a subconscious "blocking-out" of the lie (also at 1:00)

Barack Obama juts his tongue out (at 1:01). Just before the lie. In this cluster, his "Tongue Jut" is akin to a child pushing out food he/she doesn't like. For he doesn't really want to lie - no one does - it tastes bad.







All these body language tells are package in a nonverbal sentence which follow in rapid succession. In body language parlance, this is known as a "cluster".

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2156:  Barack Obama's Body Language at Al Smith Charity Dinner -  Comedy, White Lies and Facial Touching MAPs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2152:  Second Presidential Debate - 16 October 2012 -  Barack Obama's Duping Delight -  Benghazi, Libya Attack was an "Act of Terror" -  Alpha, Beta, Confidence & Acquiescence ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2138:  President Obama's Anger-Frustration During Debate -  An Under-Appreciated Body Language Signal

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1907:  Governor Rick Scott tells a Lie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033:  Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

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