The above image was captured on 28 May 2024 just prior to the beginning of proceedings on the final day of Donald Trump's election interference trial.
The expression on Trump's face in this image is, surprisingly, relatively neutral, however ...
... Trump's left-hand-over-his-right-fist configuration was a common behavior exhibited by him during the trial:
Trump is right-handed. Covering one's dominant hand, clenched in a fist – with the non-dominant hand is classic body language behavior indicative of trying to cover, sequester, and control one's temper.
Todd Blanche's fingers are interlaced – indicative of frustration, impatience, and sometimes anger. While it's important to not interpret body language in isolation, people often adopt this hand pose when they're trying to appear 'leaderly' and composed:
Todd Blanche's facial expression tells us much more. Note his eyelids are closed. This is a still image, so this could be simply coincidence (caught during a normal blink) but most likely it's not:
Closing one's eyelids frequently and/or for 'extended blinks' in this context indicates impatience, frustration, disbelief, and possibly anger.
Now look at Blanche's mid and lower face – it displays an amalgam of:
• Frustration ** • Impatience ** • Disbelief **
• Regret *****
In particular, note his mouth and cheek asymmetry – with more expression on Blanche's right side – 'hiding' on the side away from Trump.
Also note the 'bunching up' of the area above his upper lip, together with his flared nostrils, and moderately clenched jaw.
SUMMARY: This image of Todd Blanche shows a good nonverbal encapsulation of much of his overall experience as Donald Trump's attorney:
• Regret
• Disbelief
• Frustration
• Impatience
Trump displays diminished impulse control – covering his right (dominant hand) fist with his left hand. A thin veil of restraint.
Inquiries regarding teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, consulting, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com
Anyone watching this Justice Department press conference on 28 January 2019, would have noticed Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker was sweating profusely throughout most of this presser. Although the etiology of such sweating may, of course, sometimes be secondary to an acute infection or other medical conditions, the first thought which will come to most peoples' minds is that Whitaker was experiencing extreme anxiety. They would be correct.
Is the Acting Attorney General of the United States just a little camera shy - or is there another inspiration for his perspiration? What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Matthew Whitaker's response to reporters' questions regarding Robert Mueller's investigation.
At 31:34, Acting AG Whittaker says, "Um, you know, we have, we take very seriously, ahum, lying to Congress (shaking his head side-to-side) and, if there were referrals made, by, by the 'ppropriate [sic] committees, ah, as is ordinary course (shakes head side-to-side), for, for matters like this - then we would (shaking head side-to-side)investigate that, ah, as we would anything else." (switches to shaking his head up-and-down).
On multiple occasions (31:38, 31:44 - 31:45, 31:48 - 31:50) during this response, the acting Attorney General shakes his head, (No) side-to-side. This horizontal head shaking dynamic simultaneous with these declarative statements indicates his cognitive-emotional dissonance. His nonverbal behavior is very much incongruous with his verbal behavior.
Then, upon finishing of this answer, Mr. Whitaker then switches his head dynamic - and momentarily shakes his head up-and-down (31:50 - 31:51) - indicating that at some level (most likely consciously or at the of his edge-of-consciousness), Matthew Whitaker realizes his earlier contradictory body language - thus altering his head shaking motion to the up-and-down affirmative.
Please watch the video several times - as the subtleties of these movements are impossible to capture with still images.
Then, during 31:50, just after he says, "... anything else", Whitaker displays an expression indicating feelings of emotional pain (Note his slightly up-turned inner [medial] eyebrows [an elevated Central Forehead Contraction] and his down-turned mouth corners [especially his left]).
He then (31:52) displays a Loose Tongue Jut (not to be confused with a Tight Tongue Jut or a Wide-Open Tongue Jut), indicating the thought-emotions of:
• I've been bad
• I've been caught
• I've done a stupid thing
Notice also, Whitaker's right eyebrow mildly-moderately elevated, telling us he's in disbelief with his own statement. Whitaker's unilateral eyebrow raising/disbelief pattern we see displayed multiple times throughout this video.
He then turns his head to his left, and, as he prepares to answer another
question, Whitaker's eyelids open widely (31:53). While his forehead does not contract, his eyebrows and, particularly his eyelids do elevate. While not fully manifested, this is a classic Deer-in-the-Headlights response. Whitaker, in this moment, is feeling and displaying a heightened level of fear.
Scratching and/or rubbing higher on the forehead is a strong, nonspecific signal of anxiety (34:39). Note Whitaker's eyelids are still opened significantly here.
Immediately after a journalist, prefaces her question with, "Um, before you came into your current role ...", Matthew Whitaker's eyelids open even wider, with his right eye opened to an extreme degree (34:40). Also, notice that his nostrils are flaring. Whitaker is again experiencing a dramatic surge of Fear.
This same journalist continues her question, "... you were publicly very critical of the special counsel's investigation ...", Whitaker scratches above and in front of his left ear (left temple) with his left index finger (34:44).
Scratching or rubbing in front of and above the ear has a high correlation with deception, particularly in this confrontational context.
Although we can't see with absolute confidence (the camera doesn't capture it directly), it certainly appears, that just prior to - and just after this temple scratch/rub, Whitaker placed his left hand in and out of his left front pants pocket. Whitaker does so several other times in this video. This Limb Hiding is very much akin to a what a turtle does when it's frightened. He's in fear - he wants to leave (but can't) so he (partially) escapes into his shell (pants pocket). Placing hand(s) in one's pockets, when on stage is a profound red flag. And, although, in other settings, Whitaker may very well be an alpha male personality - in this scenario, he's a beta trying to disguise himself as alpha.
The journalist continues, asking, "... now since you have received your briefings, is there anything you've seen or read that gives you concern about the special counsel Robert Mueller or his investigation?"
Whitaker answers, "You know I've been fully briefed on the investigation ..."
Acting AG Whitaker then looks away from the journalist, and while looking down and to his left, he rather dramatically raises his right eyebrow (34:51). In this context, this Unilateral Eyebrow Raising indicates either that Matthew Whitaker:
• Cannot believe he was asked that question (highly unlikely)
• or he can't quite believe the Catch-22 situation in which he has placed himself
• or he does indeed have concerns regarding Robert Mueller's investigation
• or he does not believe he has been fully briefed on Mueller's investigation
Matthew Whitaker continues, "... and ah, you know I look forward to, ah, Director Mueller, ahum, delivering the final report ...". During 34:59 - 35:00, (as he says, "delivering the final report"), notice how he, once again, shakes his head side-to-side ("No") as he is making an affirmative statement. His nonverbal behavior very much contradicts what he's saying verbally.
Notice too, that his right eyebrow is, once again, elevated.
Just after Whitaker says, "only with publicly available information" ("... and, I, ah, really am not going to talk about, eh, open and ongoing investigation otherwise, but - you know, sorta the statements that I made as a private citizen - only with publicly available information, ..."), he displays a Microexpression of Regret (35:11). Watch this dynamic several times at full speed, 1/2 speed 1/4 speed, and once again at full speed, concentrating your attention on HIS left mouth corner.
Continuing, Whitaker says, "... ahum, and I, you know I'm, I'm comfortable that, ahum, that the decisions that were made [up-talking] are going to be, ahum, reviewed ..."
Note the uptalking, crescendoing/questioning sounding of the tone with his words, "made", "reviewed", and "have". Up-talking in this context signals low confidence. This is particularly telling given he's a middle-aged male in a senior, national leadership position. Such beta vocal tones are profoundly out of context with the behavior of an acting Attorney General.
During 35:19, as he says, "reviewed", Whitaker also displays a partially suppressed smile along with - once again - a questioning, raised right eyebrow. Smiling out of context, particularly with such a serious matter, indicates, with exceedingly high probability, that Whitaker does not believe what he just said.
You may have also noticed Whitaker's dramatic facial blushing which
progressed throughout this presser. Blushing, when accompanying a
suppressed smile, along with a declarative statement is highly
indicative of deception/ulterior motives.
Whitaker continues (from 34:19), ".... ah, a-, ya know, n-either [sic] through the various means we have - but right now, ya know, the investigation is ah, [inhale] I think, ah - close tal [sic], being completed and I hope that we can the report from Director Mor-r [sic] Mueller as soon we - as possible."
At 35:34, after the last word ("possible") of his sentence and the last word of this press conference - he, once again, displays a second example of a duping delight, duplicitous smile - along with extreme blushing. This behavior cluster screams of ulterior motives.
Throughout his answers, in obvious paralanguage displays of further anxiety, Matthew Whitaker repeatedly stutters, stammers, and mispronounces - including, most noticeably, Mueller's name.
SUMMARY: During his press conference on 28 January 2019, Matthew Whitaker was experiencing profound anxiety. More specifically, he feels tremendous pressure from the cognitive-emotional dissonance he's receiving from the two opposing forces of - and conflicting obligations he feels toward - both Donald Trump and Robert Mueller. During this presser, the Acting U.S. Attorney General also projected regret, fear, emotional pain, disbelief - and most notably, deception.
Yesterday, Axios' Mike Allen interviewed the eldest first daughter and presidential advisor, Ivanka Trump. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of a key portion of Ms. Trump's reaction to Robert Mueller and the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting.
MIKE ALLEN: Last question and then we're gonna, ah, have Jonathan Swan - have you talked to Robert Mueller or his team? And did you - knowΩ about the Trump Tower meeting in June twenty Ω sixteen before it happened? Or did you see any of those visitors?
IVANKA TRUMP: [Positions her mouth to answer, pauses, smiles-laughs, blushes, then answers] No ∆ and No∆
MIKE ALLEN: Jonathan Swan? Ahum, the great Jonathan Swan is gonna pick up on anything missed, nixed, orrr botched here. Go ahead Jonathan.
IVANKA TRUMP: And by 'See any of those visitors', I assume - I've seen my husband. And I've se-ee-ee-en [laughing] § [gestures right hand, palm-forward and tilted-down toward journalist in a dominance/refuting display as she laughs] and I've seen my brother [laughing, now with a two-handed palm forward display] §§ but - No.
MIKE ALLEN: But you didn't talk to any of the Russian visitors from there, right?
IVANKA TRUMP: No-o-oh[Laughing, shaking head side-to-side, in a "No" illustrator, blushing deeply]
Very early in this video, during 0:05 as the Journalist says the word, "... know ...", Ivanka Trump displays a subtle yet highly significant microexpression display.
Microexpressions are very short-lived facial movements indicating specific emotions. This particular microexpression was a manifestation of anxiety-fear.
A couple seconds later, during 0:07 as the Journalist says the word, "... twenty ...", Ivanka Trump displays a second microexpression of anxiety-fear. This example is more subtle.
Each of these is notated by the Ω symbol.
Please watch these at regular speed, at 1/2, and at 1/4 speed - then once again at regular speed. Repeat this cycle several times. This practice will increase your ability to detect this and other microexpressions in real-time.
After the Journalist finishes asking his initial question, just after he says, "... Or did you see any of those visitors?", Ivanka Trump positions her mouth to answer. She then pauses. The image immediately above captures the moment she held her mouth configuration as she paused (during 0:10).
This is a stalling behavior tactic and it's rarely fully conscious. Ivanka's psyche is caught off guard and even though her answer is a simple denial, she needs more time to formulate it.
Note also that she's looking up to slightly to her left. This is the quadrant
most right-handed people look toward when they're recalling a visual memory (Ms.
Trump is right-handed).
She then smiles, laughs, blushes (during 0:11), then proceeds to answer.
The subject matter at hand is one of national security and is not humorous - either from the point-of-view of the average person watching - or if one had been falsely accused in a conspiracy.
Her laughter is a brief, breathy chuckle. Her smile is accompanied by a deep and long-lasting blush.
She then does something contradictory and profoundly telling. Ivanka Trump nods her head up-and-down in a characteristic "Yes" gesture (illustrator) while speaking her answer, "No." She does this during 0:12 and again during 0:14.
These actions are notated in the dialog by the ∆ symbols.
Whenever nonverbal behavior is disparate with one's verbal behavior,
it's the nonverbal language which tells their true feelings. Her
up-and-down nodding (yes) was an affirmation.
A detail not to be lost here, and which is also a microexpression - is Ms. Trump's evanescent Lip Pursing - which is particularly evident during the second "No" (0:14, image immediately above).
A Forward Lip Purse indicates a withheld (secret) disagreement and/or a clandestine plan.
Ms. Trump gestures with her right hand (during 0:28), palm forward and tilted downward in a dominant gesture just after she says, "And by 'See any of those visitors', I assume - I've seen my husband. And I've se-ee-ee-en [laughing]".
This illustrator is notated in the dialog by a single § symbol.
This illustrator is repeated with both hands just after Ms. Trump says, "... and I've seen my brother ..." (notated by the double §§ symbol, during 0:29)
These palm-out, tilted-downward, gestures are refuting, dominating displays.
Ivanka Trump's laughing is forced and feigned - but her blushing is very real. Blushing is always significant and it can't be faked.
Ms. Trump's faux laughing is melodramatic and extremely out-of-context. This is not an occasion to laugh - whether she is guilty or innocent. Coupled with her deep and prolonged blushing, it's highly indicative of anxiety and deception.
This is a classic example of Queen Gertrude's observation in
Shakespeare's Hamlet, "The Lady doth protest too much, methinks." And
this too is a play within a play.
Note as Ms. Trump turns (mostly with her head, neck, and eyes - but less so with her torso) toward Jonathan Swan - and
as he asks his question, she maintains a high level of anxiety. She must 'burn off' her
excess adrenaline and she accomplishes this by nodding
her head up and down with a relatively high frequency - during his question from 0:42 - 0:44, 0:48 - 1:03, and 1:05 -
1:06.
SUMMARY: Ivanka Trump's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior displayed in this video demonstrates that, with extremely high probability, she is being deceptive and did have foreknowledge of the 9 June 2016 Trump Tower meeting.
On Tuesday, President Trump met with South Korean President, Moon Jae-in at the White House. During a question and answer session in the Oval Office, the American President spoke about his scheduled upcoming Summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. What follows is a partial body language analysis of a portion of this video.
JOHN (Journalist, beginning at 1:31): Can you give us an update Sir, just on where things stand with - with The Summit? Ah, President Moon's National Security Advisor, on the way here, seemed to think that things are on-track, and that - this will indeed happen.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we're moving along and, we'll see what happens. Ah, there 're certain conditions that we want, and I'll think we'll get those conditions - and if we don't - we don't have the meeting - and frankly, it has a chance to be a great, great meeting for North Korea - and a great meeting for the World. Ah, if it doesn't happen - ahnn, maybe it will happen later. Maybe it will happen at a different time. But, we will see. Ah, but we are - a-, talking - ah, thee meeting's scheduled as you know on June twelfth in Singapore - and, ah whether or not it happens you'll be knowing pretty soon - but we're talking right now.∑
During 1:37 - 1:38, as the journalist says, "... National Security Advisor, on the way here, seemed to think ...", President Trump displays a classic mild disgust display.
There are two crucial times during this short statement when the President Shrugs his Shoulders - during 1:47 as he says "... conditions ...", (shown in the photo immediately above) and again, during 2:01 as he says, "... happen ..."
A shoulder shrug is a signal for the thought emotions of:
• I don't know
• I don't care
• What does it matter?
Notice Donald Trump is also looking down as he's shrugging. In this context, this action is a significant adjunct nonverbal.
Of course, a shrug is a dynamic act - and thus is not captured adequately in a still image. Please watch this segment of the video several times to view these gestures in-context.
During 2:13, as the President says, "... ah ...", he displays an expression with significant Regret - and more specifically, that of Sheepish Regret.
At the very end of this particular answer (2:18), just after he says, "... but we're talking right now", The President displays an expression primarily of Frustration (with a secondary component of Regret). This is notated by the ∑ symbol in the above dialog.
SUMMARY: Confident leaders don't shrug. Whether a person's overall personality is alpha, beta, or (like most) somewhere in between - shrugging is a significant signal of low confidence.
Those who closely follow Donald Trump's behavior aren't surprised to hear that many experts are now are saying it's a good bit less likely the Summit with North Korea will go on as planned.
President Trump's body language displayed here - that of regret, sheepishness, frustration, apathy, and low confidence - all indicate that Trump believes he probably won't be meeting with Kim Jong-un on 12 June 2018.
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.
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.
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.
