Body Language Analysis No. 4234: Donald Trump's Reaction to Question Regarding Whether He Fired Rex Tillerson because the SOS called him a "Moron" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday, on the South Lawn of the White House, President Trump answered questions regarding his Twitter-firing of Secretary of State Tillerson. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis as Trump responded nonverbally - but otherwise ignored a crucial question.

You may recall various reports in early October of 2017 that Rex Tillerson called President Trump a "Moron". Moreover, many sources also revealed the Secretary of State used an additional expletive ("F***ing Moron"). This was in response to Trump's behavior during a speech he gave at the National Boy Scout Jamboree the previous July.

JOURNALIST (Beginning at 2:23 in the above video): Did you fire him because he called you a moron?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Ω What?

SAME JOURNALIST: Did you fire him because he called you a moron?

Obviously, the President ignored the question and called on a second journalist.

During 2:26, just as he begins to answer "What?" - as well as again, a second later - during her repeating of the same question, the President's jaw shifts quickly to his left. During the first occasion (image immediately above), this movement is somewhat subtle.

However, with the second display, Trump's Jaw Confessional is more extreme - a truly Text Book example - and lasts for about 1.1 seconds.

This quick sudden lateral movement is known as a "Jaw Confessional". It's strongly indicative of Embarrassment. Notice too, Donald Trump repeated this nonverbal behavior before the Journalist completed her repeat of the question - demonstrating that he not only heard the question the first time it was asked - but also, as is often the case, he needed the additional time for mental-emotional processing. He then avoided the question, taking another.

Summary: Donald Trump's nonverbal behavior during this particular Q & A demonstrated that he is indeed embarrassed by Rex Tillerson calling him a "F***ing Moron" last summer. Yesterday's analysis of an earlier portion of this same exchange with these journalists showed the President has disdain, disgust, smugness, Schadenfreude, and is repulsed by Secretary Tillerson.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4233: Donald Trump Regarding His Firing of Rex Tillerson

Body Language Analysis No. 4231: Sam Nunberg Interview (Part III) • Diminished Impulse Control, Frustration, and Anxiety 

Body Language Analysis No. 4229: Sam Nunberg (Part II) • Roger Stone, Robert Mueller, and Lies

Body Language Analysis No. 4193: Hope Hicks, Sexual Attraction, Armpits, and Elbows

Body Language Analysis No. 4166: Logan Paul's Apology 

Body Language Analysis No. 4152: Ruby Rose and her Mother's (Overgrown) Pig 

Body Language Analysis No. 4116: Carey Mulligan and American Accent

Body Language Analysis No. 4097: Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, and a Tennis Tongue Tell

Body Language Analysis No. 4075: Equifax Chairman and CEO Richard F. Smith Steps Down After Massive Hack/Data Breach


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4233: Donald Trump Regarding His Firing of Rex Tillerson - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Tuesday morning, President Trump fired Rex Tillerson. The US Secretary of State found out via Twitter. The video above features Donald Trump fielding questions from the press on the South Lawn of the White House later in the morning. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of a few key moments of this exchange.

Beginning at 0:55, President Trump continues, "... and - as far as Rex - Tillerson is concerned - I very much appreciate his commitment and his service - and I wish him well. He's a good man Ω ."

Just after he says, "He's a good man", the President displays a classic expression of disgust (during 1:05). Note carefully his mouth configuration as well as the tension in his mid-face (mustache region) as well as flaring of his nostrils.

Although not a required component of disgust, his momentary eyelid tension and mildly increased eyelid closure are disgust amplifiers.

This moment is captured in the image immediately above.

Only a second later, during 1:06, Donald Trump displays a Tight Tongue Jut.

A tight tongue jut (not to be confused with a Loose Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut) projects feelings of Disgust, Disdain, and Repulsion.

In response to a journalist's question (beginning at 1:08), "Mr. President, what did you say to Rex Tillerson?"

Donald Trump answered, "Ah, Rex and I have been talking about this for a long time. Ah, we ∆ we, got along, actually, quite well §- but we disagreed on things..."

President Trump's fingers forward, palm-down, medial-to-lateral (moving outward) hand sweep (visible at the lower left-hand side of the screen), during 1:13, just after he says, "... Ah, we ...", is a dismissive gesture (Illustrator) and is contradictory to what he's about to say - "we, got along, actually, quite well ..."

During 1:16, just before he says, "... but we disagreed on things ...", President Trump displayed a quintessential Tongue-in-Cheek display. In this cluster-context, a tongue in cheek behavior indicates the Smug/Schadenfreude thought-emotion of I Just Won.

From a paralanguage/statement analysis perspective, the President's use of the word, "actually" (1:14 - 1:15) in this context is a back-peddling qualifier and a signal Trump is trying too hard to convince us. His Tongue-in-Cheek display, following only a second later is an example of paralanguage-nonverbal coupling/clustering.

Summary: Donald Trump's nonverbal behavior indicates he has disgust, disdain, and repulsion for Rex Tillerson. In addition, President Trump displays significant Smugness/Schadenfreude for his act of firing Secretary Tillerson - revealing Trump's behavior is not objectively driven, rather he's operating from a personal-motive reference frame.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4232: Betsy DeVos' 60 Minutes Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4230: Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump, and the Home Field Advantage

Body Language Analysis No. 4228: Kim Jong-un's "Smile"

Body Language Analysis No. 4226: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, and Wikileaks

Body Language Analysis No. 4224: Greta Gerwig's reaction to Guillermo del Toro's Best Picture Oscar Speech

Body Language Analysis No. 4209: Emma Gonzalez, Florida HS Shooting, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4194: Tom Brady, "Why Does Everyone Want Me To Retire So Bad?"

Body Language Analysis No. 4183: Aly Raisman, Larry Nassar, and USA Gymnastics

Body Language Analysis No. 4111: Selena Gomez, Francia Raisa, and a Kidney Transplant

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4092: Rex Tillerson responds to Bob Corker's "Castration" Comment - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

This morning Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was interviewed by Jake Tapper on CNN's State of the Union. Among other subjects, Mr. Tapper addressed Senator Bob Corker's statement from earlier this week regarding President Trump's behavior toward Secretary Tillerson, specifically Senator Corker's statement of, "You cannot publicly castrate your own Secretary of State..."

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Secretary of State Tillerson.

JAKE TAPPER to REX TILLERSON: "I want to - ask about Senator Bob Corker who said something 'bout you. Ah, and he was referring - he's a friend of yours. He has - tremendous respect for you. He speaks highly of you all the time. He says that you're one of the best things about the cabinet. And he's dismayed. He thinks President Trump is constantly undermining you. This is a Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said, the President has, 'Castrated you before the World stage'. That's his word - not mine. What's your response to that?"

During 0:14 (captured immediately above), as Jake Tapper says, "... He thinks President Trump is constantly undermining you...", Secretary Tillerson tilts his head to his left and displays a classic microexpression. Watch this video several times - at normal speed and again at 1/2 speed as the photo does not show its dynamic nature.

Note how the corners of Rex Tillerson's mouth evanescently move slightly down and laterally - simultaneously with a tightening of his "mustache area" along with a subtle flaring of his nostrils. This is a classic microexpression - projecting a combination of both Disgust and Regret.

Summary: In this interview, Secretary of State Tillerson displayed a microexpression of combined Disgust and Regret immediately upon hearing the words "President Trump".


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4091: John Kelly's Press Briefing, "I'm not quitting"/"I'm not getting fired"

Body Language Analysis No. 4089: Donald Trump's Reaction to Bob Corker's World War III Comment 

Body Language Analysis No. 4087: Harrison Ford Accidentally Punches Ryan Gosling in the Face - Blade Runner 2049 

Body Language Analysis No. 4085: Donald Trump's "Calm Before the Storm" Comment

Body Language Analysis No. 4081: Catalonia's Referendum vs. Spain's Control

Body Language Analysis No. 4078: Toddler Steals Prince Harry's Popcorn

Body Language Analysis No. 4061: Pennywise,"IT", and Bill Skarsgård's Demonic Smile - Why is IT so Scary?

Body Language Analysis No. 4039: Blue Angels, Surprise, Emotional Processing, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 3994: Vladimir Putin at G20 - Donald Trump agreed with me


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4084: Senator Corker Reacts to Secretary Tillerson's Statement (and President Trump) - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made a statement and answered a few questions regarding conflicts which some have alleged he has had with President Trump. Along with specifically denying he has considered resigning, Secretary Tillerson also very notably refused to answer a question as to whether or not he called President Trump, "A Moron".

After the Secretary's statement, Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), went on record in support of Secretary Tillerson, Secretary of Defence James Mattis, and Chief of Staff John Kelly. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Senator Corker's Statement.

SENATOR CORKER (beginning at 0:00): I, I think, ah, Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis, Ω∫ [lip smack] and, ah, Chief of Staff Kelly, ahum Ω∫ , are - those people that help separate our country from chaos. And, ah, Ω∫ [lip smack] I, ah, support them very much. Ahum Ω∫  [lip smack], and I, I don't know what he may have said after the briefing. Ahum [lip smack]. I watch from, I, I mean look - I see what's happening here - I deal with people throughout the administration - and, ahum I, he, he, from my perspective is in an incredibly frustrating place - where Ω∆ - ahum Ω∫  [lip smack] - as I watch, okay - and I can watch very closely on many occasions - I mean, I, you know, Ω he ends up not being supported in the way that I would hope a Secretary of State would be supported.

[video omission/splice at 0:50]

SENATOR CORKER: I, I, think he's in a very trying situation - trying to Ω, Ω∫ [lip smack] to ah Ω, solve many of the World's problems Ω, ahum, a lot of times without the kind of support and help that I'd like to see him have Ω∫ .

JOURNALIST A: Does he ever think about resigning at any point in time?

SENATOR CORKER: Ω I, I can't get into that.

JOURNALIST B: When you say that Tillerson, Mattis, and Kelly are separating this country from chaos - do you mean th-, from th-, President's chaos?

SENATOR CORKER: Well it's just they, they, they, they act in a very, ah, they work very well together to make sure that the policies that we put forth around the World Ω∆ are - you know ∆ - sound and coherent. There are other people Ω ah, ah, ah within the administration in my belief that don't Ω∆ - okay? I'm sorry.

This photo (immediately above) was captured during 0:09, just after the Senator says, "... Chief of Staff Kelly, ahum ..." and just prior to "... are - those people that help separate ..."

Notice the significant lateral vectoring of the corners of his mouth - this signifies Regret (Ω notates Regret displays in the dialog above). The Inward Lip Roll indicates a suppression of strong emotions - however, the outward bulging of the tissue below his lower lip projects Frustration (∫ notates Frustration).

This image shows Senator Corker, momentarily expressing Regret, just after he says, "... where ..." and before he says, "... ahum - as I watch, okay..." (during 0:36). Here we see his mouth corners pulled directly laterally.

Another simultaneous emotion in this moment is that of Disgust. Do you see it? It's subtle. (Slight tightening of the tissue in his "mustache area" along with mild flaring of his nostrils). Disgust is notated by the ∆ sign in the above dialog.

This last picture is more of a pure regret expression - although it occurs more during speech - just as Senator Corker begins to say, "I, I can't get into that" (During 1:02 - In response to a question as to whether Secretary Tillerson had considered resigning).

Note how this image is a bit blurry due to the Senator's head moving away from the journalist as he begins his answer - another manifestation of regret.

It's important to stress that this is but a partial nonverbal analysis with only some of the more prominent signals notated.

Summary: Senator Bob Corker has significant regret, frustration, and disgust for President Trump. He also has knowledge that Secretary Tillerson has, in fact, considered resigning.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4083: President Trump, Puerto Rico, and Meeting San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz

Body Language Analysis No. 4081: Catalonia's Referendum vs. Spain's Control

Body Language Analysis No. 4079: Tom Price, Private Jets, and Nonverbal Disparity

Body Language Analysis No. 4077: A Facial Expression Common to Both Bad Actors and Sociopaths

Body Language Analysis No. 4056: Ed Sheeran and a Hesitancy to Disclose

Body Language Analysis No. 4035: Hope Hicks, Jared Kushner, and Phone Tells

Body Language Analysis No. 4001: Jodie Whittaker, Dr. Who, and Flirting from a TARDIS

Body Language Analysis No. 3968: The Grenfell Tower Fire, Empathy, and Emotional Processing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3801: Marion Cotillard, Lip Syncing and Honest Anxiety


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4045: Rex Tillerson Regarding Donald Trump, "The President Speaks for Himself" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Two days ago the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was a guest on Fox News Sunday. The Secretary made a statement, in which, many people feel he made a clear distinction between the President's statements and values from his own - as well as from traditional and ongoing American values.

What follows is a partial transcript as well as a partial nonverbal analysis of this crucial exchange.

CHRIS WALLACE (beginning at 0:39): Does that make it harder for you to push American values around the World when some foreign leaders question the President's values?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Ah, Chris we express America's values from the State Department. We represent the American people. We represent America's values, our commitment to freedom, our commitment to equal treatment of people the World over - and that message has never changed.

CHRIS WALLACE: And, when the President gets into the kind of controversy he does and the UN Committee responds the way it does - it seems to say, they, they begin to doubt - our, whether we're living those values.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: I don't believe anyone doubts the American people's values or the commitment of the, * American government, or the government's agencies to advancing those values and defending those values.

CHRIS WALLACE: And, and the President's values?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: The President speaks for himself, Chris.

CHRIS WALLACE: Are you - separating yourself from that, Sir?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: I've spoken, I've made my own comments as to our values as well in a speech I gave to the State Department this past week *

CHRIS WALLACE: Mr. Secretary, thank you. Thanks for coming today. Always a pleasure to talk with you, Sir.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: My pleasure, Chris.

CHRIS WALLACE: Stay Safe.

During 1:13, as Chris Wallace says, "... they begin to doubt - our, whether we're living those values...", Secretary Tillerson looks down and to his right simultaneous with displaying a "Tight Tongue Jut".

A "Tight Tongue Jut" indicates the emotions of distaste, disdain, and disgust.  Looking down and to the right is highly correlative with experiencing the emotions of sadness and regret.

Care must be taken to not confuse a "Tight Tongue Jut" with a "Loose Tongue Jut" - for although they appear somewhat similar, each has a completely different meaning. 

As previously noted (see Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3816: Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson), Secretary Tillerson has a longstanding (tic-like) habit of speaking out of the side of his mouth. It's quite extreme with the Secretary. When such speaking asymmetry occasionally occurs, it's very often secondary to dishonesty. However, because this is, for the Secretary, his baseline idiosyncratic behavior - such a judgment of dishonesty would be erroneous. This makes the microexpression occurring at 1:17 a bit difficult to see. Just before he says, "American", and during its first syllable, the Secretary of State's left corner of his mouth pulls both down and out (laterally) in a unilateral expression of apprehension (with most people, this would be bilateral, but the Secretary's asymmetrical speaking style masks this in a moment of symmetry).

During 1:38, Just after he says, "... I've made my own comments as to our values as well in a speech I gave to the State Department this past week...", Secretary Tillerson displays a single, fixed, long-duration, head nod (aka as an "Alpha Head Nod Affirmation"). This momentary downward tilting of the head and neck (e.g., a single strong nod), while looking past one's suddenly more prominent (and downward vectored) eyebrows - is a signal of finality. It's very alpha and is a nonverbal way of saying, "Don't question me regarding this issue" and "The matter is closed".




You may also note in this same instant the mild-to-moderate tension in the Secretary's "mustache region", mild nostril flaring, and mild central forehead contraction - all of which, when in combination, are congruent with these same sentiments.

Summary: Secretary Tillerson feels distaste, disdain, disgust, regret, sadness, and apprehension - with the notion that, because of President Trump, people from other countries may be doubting whether or not US citizens are collectively living in a manner consistent with traditional American values.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4044: Kim Jong-un's Choreography

Body Language Analysis No. 4042: Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor - Official Weigh-in

Body Language Analysis No. 4040: James Clapper Regarding Donald Trump's Fitness for Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4038: Donald Trump's Afghanistan Speech

Body Language Analysis No. 4020: Bruce Willis and the "Death Wish" Remake

Body Language Analysis No. 4014: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Donald Trump, and Healthcare

Body Language Analysis No. 3983: Female Kurdish sniper fighting IS narrowly cheats death

Body Language Analysis No. 3939: The Russians are Confident - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and Donald Trump


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 3939: The Russians are Confident - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and Donald Trump - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Maybe you've heard? The Russians came to town. Last Wednesday Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak visited Washington and met with Donald Trump and Rex Tillerson. The image above shows Minister Lavrov and Secretary Tillerson at the State Department.

This particular moment contains some profound nonverbal tells. An analysis follows...

While Minister Lavrov is speaking, Secretary Tillerson's facial expression is primarily that of bitterness and regret - with a secondary (minor) emotion of anger.

Note Tillerson's hands are configured in what is known as a modified "Fig Leaf" (aka "Genital Guarding"). This is a significantly beta nonverbal display and should never be used among geopolitical equals (with the exceptions of funerals, weddings, certain military ceremonies [e.g., at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier], and in the presence of high-level religious figures).

Holding his own hands is pulling Tillerson's shoulders forward and down - making him look weak. In contrast, Lavrov's shoulders are straight, square and strong. The Russian projects power and assertiveness - while in comparison, the American looks diminutive and weakened.

You may have also noticed that Tillerson is squeezing his fingers. Finger squeezing is a subset of hand-wringing behavior - both of which are high anxiety displays. In particular, these are frequently displayed during times of higher levels of stress when it's felt that the likelihood of a successful outcome is increasing small or there are 'feelings of no recourse'.

Tillerson's feet are relatively close together while Lavrov's are positioned in the more recommended mode - slightly less than a shoulder's width apart. In comparison, Tillerson looks like he is 'At Attention' and that Lavrov is his commanding officer.

Standing with your feet close together - particularly when next to someone with a broad stance - engenders feelings of inferiority and subordination. It will lower your confidence (even if standing alone) and - as military leaders knew millennia ago - it makes one much more likely to take orders and acquiesce.

Incredibly, standing with one's feet close together will also cause thoughts and speech to be less fluid.

Thus if you want to improve your ability to:

• Think on your feet
• Speak on your feet
• Be confident and project confidence
• Be authoritative and project authority
• Intimidate another person
• Look like a leader

                  ...then stand like Sergey - and not like Rex.

Summary: While we cannot say specifically why - we can be absolutely sure, that in this moment - Secretary Tillerson's confidence is low while Minister Lavrov's confidence is high. This is especially noteworthy for Tillerson is on his home soil.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3398: Donald Trump regarding asking James Comey for his Loyalty

Body Language Analysis No. 3396: Donald Trump's first interview after Firing James Comey

Body Language Analysis No. 3395: Donald Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 3933: Sally Yates Testimony before Senate Judiciary Committee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3926: Donald Trump regarding Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un and Nuclear Threats

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3922: Vladimir Putin and Michael Flynn in Moscow

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3868: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, The West Bank and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3799: Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia - Full Lips and Lip Pursing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3717: Creepy Clowns, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 3937: Mr. Lavrov Goes To Washington - “Was he fired? You’re kidding!” - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and James Comey - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This past Wednesday, 10 May 2017 - only a day after Donald Trump fired FBI Director, James Comey - Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador, Sergey Kislyak visited with President Trump in the Oval Office. The video clip above was captured in the US State Department on that same day. Many people have noted and commented regarding Minister Lavrov's sarcastic quip - but almost no one saw what feelings he betrayed on his face just prior to his retort.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.

After Secretary Tillerson's Statement, Journalist Andrea Mitchell asks Minister Lavrov (beginning at 0:27), "Does the Comey firing cast a shadow over the talks, gentleman?"

Minister Lavrov answers, "Was he fired? You're kidding? You're kidding?"

For a split-second, as Ms. Mitchell says, the word, "... talks ..." (0:30), the Russian Foreign Minister displays an excellent example of a what is known as a microexpression. This reaction is involuntary and subconsciously driven.

Note that his eyelids open very widely - albeit extremely briefly. His mid-face also contracts - primarily in his "mustache area" as well as with flaring of his nostrils. Lavrov's mouth only moves a trace amount.

Thus this particular Microexpression is that of Fear. Something Andrea Mitchell said triggered in Lavrov an evanescent emotion of fear.

Watch this several times with a full screen and in slow motion. You'll also see his eyes, briefly looking forward, focus on the middle-distance, and rapidly fixate back-and-forth several times. This is an epiphenomenon of rapid cognitive and emotional processing when faced with something unexpected. This nonverbal dynamic is profoundly valuable in the negotiation, sales, and legal professions - for it's a signal of panic. And this is a textbook classic response.

What happens next is also very telling - for in his recovery from fear, Minister Lavrov makes a very universal and very human mistake - he overcompensates.

During 0:35 Mr. Lavrov:

• Closes his eyelids for a long duration. This action indicates a dismissive emotional tone, physiological blocking, and also acts as a contempt amplifier.
• Tilts his head quickly to the side - projecting dismissiveness (e.g., You are dismissed, this is beneath me, etc.). This emotion shares a large overlap with Contempt.
• Displays a very open and classic Contempt expression on his face (his right side)

       0:36 

• Turns and shakes his head quickly, side-to-side and then walks away

Summary:

Sergey Lavrov was rattled by something in Andrea Mitchell's question. It's as if, for a moment, his psyche feared he had been caught (perhaps he even misunderstood something she said). Then he recovered - but in his defensiveness, Lavrov over-steered with his response. This nonverbal-verbal-paralanguage cluster display is absolutely classic for this behavior.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3396: Donald Trump's first interview after Firing James Comey

Body Language Analysis No. 3394: Donald Trump's (False) Praising of James Comey

Body Language Analysis No. 3932: Raúl Labrador's Town Hall statement, "Nobody dies because they don't have access to healthcare..."

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3930: Emmanuel Macron, Hacking, and Anger

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3912: Keri Russell's Schadenfreude, Matthew Rhys' Fear, and a Hesitancy to Disclose

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3887: Why Does Donald Trump Point at People So Often?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3857: Taunting a Snowplow Driver - Belleville, Ontario

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3835: Beauty and the Beast – Official Final Trailer

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3561: Catchphrase, Andy Samberg, Bryce Harper, Gigi Hadid and Body Language


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3903: Rex Tillerson Disagrees with Donald Trump - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This image of Rex Tillerson and Donald Trump was taken on Friday 7 April 2017 at Mar-a-Lago.

The Secretary of State and the President were in the midst of their second-day meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his staff.

It also happened to be the day after 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched into Syria striking Shayrat Airbase. Trump had ordered the attack in retaliation for the Syrian government's Khan Shaykhun chemical attack which occurred on 4 April 2017. This was perpetrated with the release of toxic gas, most likely sarin - killing at least 74 people while injuring at least 557.

At the time of this photo, President Trump was discussing the missile attack (although what detail was not published). Rex Tillerson's hands are configured in a what is known as a "Pistol Steeple". This is a multiple nonverbal metaphor - for the position of his hands, with the three least dominant fingers on each hand contracted/flexed but the index finger (forefinger) of each hand extended resembles a small firearm - and also roughly approximates the way some people hold a handgun.

But crucially, from a nonverbal perspective, the pistol steeple also says, "I'm shooting down your idea", "I strongly disagree with you". We can be sure whatever, specific Syrian War nuance Donald Trump is discussing - Rex Tillerson doesn't like what he's hearing.

Additionally, the index fingers of Tillerson's pistol steeple are being held over his mouth/lips (e.g., often times this body language signal is displayed with the hands held in front of the abdomen, chest or lower neck, etc.). This variation tells us that the Secretary of State believed the President was either speaking too freely, was in error, was being misleading, or being deceptive. Rex Tillerson was wanting Donald Trump to be quiet - and was quite literally silently shushing the commander in chief.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3902: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping - Power, Control, and Handshakes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3900: Donald Trump's Statement Regarding US Retaliation for Syria's Chemical Weapons Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3899: President Trump regarding Poison Gas Attack in Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3869: James Clapper regarding Alleged Wiretap of Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3841: Tom Brady's and Roger Goodell's Handshake after Super Bowl LI

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3811: Hayden Panettiere, Stephen Colbert and Personal Space

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3659: Ryan Lochte's "Today Show" Interview regarding Alleged Rio Robbery

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


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3816: Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Rex Tillerson has a symmetry problem. The nominee for the US Secretary of State and former Exxon CEO speaks out of the right side of his mouth.

From a nonverbal perspective, we should immediately think of several different causes when we see such a one-sided speaking style:

1. Injury, Stroke, Muscle Palsy, etc.: Certainly there are numerous medical causes of an asymmetrical mouth while speaking.

2. Tic-like behavior/Long-term habit: We all know people who, although they have no medical causes, have spoken out of one side of their mouths' their whole lives.

3. Insincerity & Deception: A person may be overall an insincere individual, although not necessarily lying in a specific moment. Another person may be a pretty honest, yet they may currently be telling a lie. In either case, one signal of their sincerity could be an asymmetrical manner of speech (although it's certainly not always seen in the midst of deception).

4. Swagger/Bravado: Speaking out of one side of the mouth is one way a person may project Swagger and Bravado. This Braggadocio overlaps behaviorally with the emotional tone of insincerity.

Rex Tillerson appears to have spoken out of the right side of his mouth for years. Thus he most likely fits into one of the first two categories - and probably more specifically that of a Tic-like habit.

It's of crucial importance to note, those who speak out of one side of their mouth are overall judged by others to be less trustworthy. This tendency is also a cross-cultural phenomenon.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2815: Donald Trump's first Press Conference as President-Elect

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2812: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone & La La Land - Backstage Interview Golden Globes 2017

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3810: Mark Wahlberg, Justine Bieber and Ellen DeGeneres

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3798: Elle Fanning, Channing Tatum and Dialing Up the Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3768: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3723: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3658: Usain Bolt's "Cheeky Smile"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3584: Brock Turner's Mugshot, Duping Delight and Body Language

______________________________________________________________________________________