Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

North Korea released a video on Thursday from the Singapore Summit earlier this week. It shows President Trump returning a salute from one of Kim's generals. Trump's action shocked many people - including Kim Jong-un.

From a nonverbal perspective, it's crucial to note that Donald Trump did not initiate the salute - but responded to the General's salute (an example of social mirroring) after the General missed Trump's cue to shake hands. Upon receiving the salute from Trump, the general then re-initiated a handshake.

The image above - a screen grab from 0:06 obscures Trump's face - but not Kim's.

A closer evaluation of the North Korean leader in this same instant shows a slack-jawed Kim Jong-un. His full facial expression projects an emotion of momentary shock. For a second, he can't believe what he's seeing.

Did you notice that the North Korean General did not look at Trump's face during his salute - but looked down? He did, however, make eye contact thereafter.

Kim recovers quickly from his shock - and when Trump and the general shake hands, Kim smiles - with a mild component of laughter.

However, a closer evaluation of Kim Jong-un reveals his "smile" is asymmetrical - exposing a good bit more teeth (specifically his right, lower teeth). In this context, his particular evanescent mouth asymmetry indicates Kim's:

• Hubris
• Bravado


While of lower resolution and not captured here from an optimal angle, Donald Trump's facial expression in this same second clearly shows his:

• Central Forehead Contracted and Elevated
• Partial Mouth "Smile" (and Insincere Smile)

This is one nonverbal cluster we never want with high frequency - for although we all display it once in a while - those who use it often have a high correlation with Antisocial Personality Disorder (colloquially referred to as Sociopathy/a Sociopath).

Taken isolation this elevated CFC + partial mouth smile expression indicates one of the following feelings:

• Arrogance
• Contempt
• Sarcastic Disbelief

We all feel these thought-emotions on occasion (hopefully not too often) - and all three may be manifested via other facial expressions. But this is NEVER an expression we should ever want to see when someone is shaking our hand.


Summary: Kim Jong-un was momentarily shocked when he saw Donald Trump saluting a North Korean general. Kim then showed bravado/hubris.

President Trump's expression was insincere while shaking the foreign subordinate's hand. More specifically, Trump projected emotions of arrogance, contempt, and/or sarcastic disbelief.


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4305: Donald Trump's Aberrancies - post-Summit Interview 

Body Language Analysis No. 4303: Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, Women's Empowerment, and Rage

Body Language Analysis No. 4301: Donald Trump and the G7 Summit "Family Photo"

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

Body Language Analysis No. 4293: Why is Harvey Weinstein Smiling?

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils So Large?

Body Language Analysis No. 4202: Saoirse Ronan, Ed Sheeran, and Galway Girl (Galway Grill)

Body Language Analysis No. 4181: Ann Curry, Matt Lauer, "Verbal Sexual" Harassment, and NBC

Body Language Analysis No. 4137: Matt Lauer's "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace"

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Body Language Analysis No. 4304: Donald Trump's and Kim Jong-un's Handshake in Singapore - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In a meeting many thought would never happen, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made history in Singapore on Tuesday. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of their initial handshake. 

In this first moment leading up to their handshake, Donald Trump is the first to extend his hand as he is walking toward Kim Jong-un. This is a good body language tactic - for it projects initiative, strength, and an overall alpha-tone.

However, simultaneously, President Trump appears to be making a mistake - but it's a ruse. He approaches with his palm oriented upward. By using the palm-up configuration, the American appears to placing himself in the more beta, acquiescing role - inviting the North Korean to be in the more dominant, palm-down position.

If he were to instead approach with his palm in the neutral position (perpendicular to the floor) - he would nonverbally be saying, "We are equals". But here, this component of Trump's body language is a decoy - offering the sentiment, "I will be your subordinate".

But Trump does not maintain this position, for as they get closer, watch what happens. Trump's hand rotates a bit more toward the neutral position - as his hand and arm are retracting closer to his torso. This obligates Kim Jong-un to extend his arm farther.

As the two men get even closer, Trump continues to rotate his hand so that it then becomes perpendicular to the ground. This dynamic facilitates Trump's usual action of pulling the other person's hand/arm close to his own chest - as well as pulling it upward. The upward vectoring of Kim's hand - along with being closer to Trump's torso are both Trump-dominant maneuvers.

Note also that Trump's wrist is not bent - but straight from his elbow to his hand. In distinction, Kim's wrist is bent at a near 90º angle. This is a hyper-alpha maneuver and is uncomfortable - sometimes even overtly painful. 

Despite all this, President Trump, with high likelihood, has been counseled against his hyper-dominant type of handshake - yet he still does it, but somewhat less so with Kim Jong-un compared with most other leaders (Trump has a history of pulling the other person's hand even higher and closer - such that it typically physically touches Trump's mid-to-upper chest).

Trump then extends his left hand and squeezes the lateral aspect of Kim's right upper arm (0:10). While this maneuver exerts dominance and makes Trump look stronger - it's an example of false-affection/false familiarity and often backfires.

A couple seconds later Trump's pull loosens - allowing a more neutral position (although Kim's arm is still somewhat elevated). Note that Kim Jong-un has now straightened his wrist.

The two men's hand-contact lasts about 13 seconds. As Kim Jong-un breaks eye contact first, and begins to rotate his head, Kim's mouth displays a mild expression of pain (0:21). It's probable that Donald Trump deliberately exerted considerably more force than was necessary - or than was wise.

Too many Americans erroneously believe that a handshake should be conducted with maximum squeezing. A proper and rapport-building handshake should include a grip strength equal to the other person's grip. Squeezing too strongly during a handshake is considered rude across the vast majority of cultures.

Less than a second later Donald Trump touches Kim Jong-un again - this time on Kim's left upper arm with Trump's right hand.

A nonverbal display which Trump repeatedly uses with virtually everyone, is he openly choreographs the other person's next move by displaying a palms-up maneuver pointing in the direction in which they were obviously moving. This gives Trump an advantage - for it makes the other person feel like Trump is directing, in charge, and giving orders (and that Trump is hosting even when they're obviously not on US soil).

The facial expression Trump is displaying in this moment is highly indicative of disgust.

In this brief video, Donald Trump touches Kim Jong-un's arm or back at least seven times (not including the handshakes). However, the North Korea leader reciprocates only once (1:07).

Partially obscured from our view by a pillar, the two men then shake hands once again (note the position of Kim's hand and wrist). Kim Jong-un's smile is feigned, however - it's a social smile (albeit a fairly good one compared to most). Sincere smiles do not display one's bottom teeth.

SUMMARY: Although Donald Trump watered-down his typical version of a hyper-alpha handshake, he still asserted significantly more dominance in his greeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4303: Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, Women's Empowerment, and Rage

Body Language Analysis No. 4301: Donald Trump and the G7 Summit "Family Photo"

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

Body Language Analysis No. 4297: Donald Trump's Fearful Forefinger

Body Language Analysis No. 4295: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and Red Flags 

Body Language Analysis No. 4257: Mark Zuckerberg Testifies Before The Senate

Body Language Analysis No. 4254: Tony Robbins, Nanine McCool, and the #MeToo Movement

Body Language Analysis No. 4241: Vladimir Putin responding to a question regarding the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal

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

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