This image (and the cropped close-ups below) show Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin just prior to beginning their joint press conference during last week's Helsinki Summit.
It is only an instant in time - but from a nonverbal perspective, it's very telling (see below for other, more comprehensive analyses of this same presser).
Look at the overall posture of each man. Putin's spine is upright - perpendicular to the floor with his shoulders relaxed and squared. Holding notes, his hands and arms are flexed with mild activity. His body looks relaxed, ready, and confident.
President Trump is in the midst of stepping - so this is not
entirely an apples-to-apples comparison - however, his shoulders are hunched with his torso leaning forward - while his neck is also foreshortened. This makes him look weak - like he doesn't really want to be there. His arms should not be resting at his sides in this moment - for it gives him the appearance of an enlisted man, standing at attention (or a subordinate facing reprimand).
Trump also forgot to button his suit-jacket (or prefers it). In this setting, such casualness elevates President Putin (making him look athletic, classy, and assertive) and diminishes President Trump. It also accentuates their age difference (the Russian is 65 and the American is 72).
Putin's posture projects health,
vigor, and dominance - while Trump's configuration conveys a tired,
stressed, and submissive emotional tone.
President Trump's head, neck, and
eyes are all directed downward during this crucial entrance onto what is,
very much, the World Stage. The expression on Trump's face is projecting anxiety and low confidence. Trump is preoccupied. He's not fully present - he's not 'in the moment'.
President Putin's expression projects a smug confidence. He knows he's 'already won' before the first word is spoken.
SUMMARY: Trump's nonverbal behavior in this pre-presser moment
is worried, tired, and subservient - while Putin is confident, relaxed,
and dominant. Vladimir Putin looks like he wrote the script - while Donald Trump looks worried, shell-shocked, acquiescing - as if he's trying to remember his lines.
Yesterday, in response to his behavior with Vladimir Putin at the Helsinki Summit press conference, President Trump made an attempt to control the damage. His explanation was based on the premise of misspeaking a single word, "would" - when he meant to say, "wouldn't". What follows is a partial nonverbal and statement analysis of this exchange.
At 3:53 in the above video, the President continues, "Let me begin by saying that ah, once again, Ω full faith and support for America's intelligence agencies, I have a full-faith in our intelligence agencies - whoops, they just turned off the lights - that must be the intelligence agencies. There it goes - okay - you guys okay? Good. That was strange. But that's okay. So I'll begin by stating - that I have full faith and support for America's great intelligence agencies - always have. And I have felt very strongly that while Russia's actions had no impact - at all - on the outcome of the election - let me be totally clear in saying that - and I've said this many times - I accept our intelligen-ce - community's conclusion that Russia's meddling in the two thousand sixteen took place - could be other people also ∆ - ah - 's a lotta people out there."
A few seconds later, at 5:21 President Trump continues, "So I got a transcript - I reviewed it. I actually went out and reviewed a clip - of - ah, an answer that I gave ∆ and I realize that there is a need for some clarification. It should have been obvious. I thought it would be obvious, but I would like to clarify just in case it wasn't. In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word, 'would' instead of 'wouldn't'. The sentence should have been, 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't' or, 'why it wouldn't be Russia' - so ∆. Just to repeat it, I said the word, 'would' instead of 'wouldn't' - and the sentence should have been - and I thought I, it would be maybe a little bit unclear on thee transcript or unclear on thee actual video ∆. The sentence should have been, 'I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be Russia'."
A profound tell is displayed just prior to the lights dimming, as the President says "intelligence agencies" (at the end of his statement, "Let me begin by saying that ah, once again, full faith and support for America's intelligence agencies") - the President shakes his head side-to-side in a classic "No" gesture (Illustrator).
This is a verbal affirmation simultaneous with a nonverbal repudiation.
The President repeats this same dynamic again during 4:43, as he's saying, "... I've said this,..." (just prior to saying, " ... many times - I accept our intelligen-ce - community's conclusion that Russia's meddling in the two thousand sixteen took place... ".
On both of these occasions, the President's words are saying, "Yes", while his body language is saying, "No".
Whenever the verbal
and the nonverbal signals are in disparate, it's the nonverbal messages
which tell the person's true feelings.
Of course, this side-to-side head shaking is not captured in a still image - please watch the video to fully appreciate this subtlety.
Now - go back to just before the lights went out. The image immediately above was captured during 4:04. At this moment, Donald Trump is leaning forward with his fingers intertwined. He is frustrated - yet feeling fairly alpha in this moment.
Then the lights go out (4:04 - 4:11).
And - as soon as the lights come back on, we can see the President is now sitting back in his chair and has crossed his arms (and more specifically, with his hands hidden). Donald Trump's change in configuration when the lights were out displayed his defensiveness, low confidence, and a need for protection.
Donald Trump didn't feel secure when the lights went out - rather he felt threatened.
From a paralanguage perspective, it's extremely noteworthy that prior to the lights going out, when he was reading from his prepared remarks, the President left out the word, "I have" at the beginning of the sentence saying, "... full faith and support for America's intelligence agencies".
If a person says, "Sorry", or "Please forgive" - these carry much less impact and considerably less honesty rather than saying, "I'm sorry" or "Please forgive me". By omitting the words, "I have" at the beginning of his statement - Mr. Trump betrays his lack of ownership in his own words - his lack of faith and support for America's Intelligence agencies.
The President also displays multiple Tight Tongue Juts:
One during 4:58 (image immediately above) just after he says, "... I accept our intelligen-ce - community's conclusion that Russia's
meddling in the two thousand sixteen took place - could be other people
also ..."
Another during 5:30, just after saying, "... So I got a transcript - I reviewed it. I actually went out and reviewed a clip - of - ah, an answer that I gave ..."
Yet again during 5:56 just after he says, "... The sentence should have been, 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't' or, 'why it wouldn't be Russia' - so ..."
And once more during 6:10, just after he says, "... and I thought I, it would be maybe a little bit unclear on thee transcript or unclear on thee actual video ..."
A Tight Tongue Jut demonstrates the thought-emotions of Disdain, Disgust, and Repulsion. Donald Trump is feeling these strong emotions during his attempt at damage control. The President hates that he is doing so because it feels like an apology. He doesn't want to admit he was wrong. In this context, it's helpful to think of these multiple Tight Tongue Juts as nonverbal metaphors of him kicking and screaming as he's dragging himself - refusing to admit he's wrong.
Be careful not to mistake a Tight Tongue Jut for a Loose Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut - for they all have completely different meanings.
There are so many other very obvious verbal difficulties with the President's walk-back that have been pointed out by a multitude of others.
The entire context of Donald Trump's Helsinki Press Conference with Vladimir Putin must be taken into account - not just a simple "would" vs. "wouldn't" exchange.
For example, at the Summit the President openly disparaged American institutions while professing that he thought it was a good idea to take up Putin's offer of having Robert Mueller's team go to Russia.
Even during his attempt to fix his claimed, one-word problem (after 27 hours of not addressing it), he once again can't resist going off-script saying, "could be other people also - ah - 's a lotta people out there".
Moreover, why did the President feel the need to read from prepared notes, if all he had done was misspoken a single word? In this context - as with an apology - this action alone projects strong insincerity.
SUMMARY: President Trump's nonverbal behavior during yesterday's walk-back regarding his Helsinki press conference was highly indicative of deception. His words in Helsinki were indeed intentional. Multiple examples of verbal statement analyses also support this conclusion. In addition, Donald Trump had disdain, disgust, and was repulsed when making his statement.
Intriguingly, and as odd as it may sound, the President - while in the White House - felt threatened, defensive, and insecure when the lights momentarily went out.
Today in Helsinki, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met for 2 hours and 15 minutes with only their translators present. Afterward, the two leaders held a press conference.
A multitude of nonverbal dissections could be conducted regarding the pre-summit lead-up, the summit, and the presser. What follows is a partialnonverbal and statement analysis focusing on allegations of Putin's alleged "compromising material on President Trump or his family".
REPORTER (beginning at 1:02:39): A question for President, President Putin. Ah, two questions for you, sir. Can you tell me what President Trump may have indicated to you about officially recognizing Crimea as part of Russia? And then secondly, sir, do you, does the Russian government have any compromising material on President Trump or his family?
PUTIN: [chuckles]The posture of President Trump on Crimea is well known and he stands firmly by it, he continue to maintain that it was illegal to annex it. We - our viewpoint is different. We held a referendum in strict compliance with the UN Charter and international legislation. For us, this issue, we put [unintelligible] to this issue. And now to the compromising material. Yeah, I did heard this rumors that we allegedly collected compromising material on Mr. Trump when he was visiting Moscow. Our distinguished colleague, let me tell you this. When President Trump visited Moscow back then I didn't even know that he was in Moscow. I treat President Trump with utmost respect. But back then, when he was a private individual, a businessman, nobody informed me that he was in Moscow. But let's take St. Petersburg Economic Forum, for instance. There were over 500 American businessmen - the high ranking, the high-level ones, I don't even remember the last names of each and every one of them. But, do you remember, do you think that we tried to collect compromising material on each and every single one of them? Well, it's difficult to imagine - an utter nonsense of a bigger scale than this. Well, please just disregard these issues and don't think about this anymore again.
TRUMP: And, and I have to say if they had it, it would have been out long ago and if anybody watched Peter Strzok testify over the last couple of days and I was in Brussels watching it, it was a disgrace to the FBI, it was a disgrace to our country. And you would say that was a total witch hunt. Thank you very much everybody. Thank you.
During 1:02:57 - 1:02:59, as the journalist says, "... or his family?", Donald Trump initiates the following nonverbal cluster-sequence:
• Nods his head up-and-down (signifying a "Yes" thought-emotion)
• Displays a false smile (this variety of false smile is known as a "Bitter Smile")
• Blushes
• Closes his eyes
• Looks down to his right
• Looks over to Putin
• Moves both hands and arms from a position front and forward on the lectern, to a retracted and back configuration
• Nods his head side-to-side (as Putin chuckles)
• Blushes deeper (as Putin chuckles)
• Looks to Vladimir Putin again for an answer (note he does this twice)
Blushing with a suppressed smile alone would be enough - yet this set of nonverbal dynamics, clustered together in this context is PROFOUNDLY indicative of guilt. His blushing comes in a second wave precipitated by the Russian President's laughter/chuckling.
Trump's "smile" in this moment is insincere - a pseudo-smile of bitterness (known specifically as a "Bitter Smile").
Crucially, although he eventually shakes his head side-to-side, the President initially nods his head up-and-down, signaling a subconscious "Yes" to the implication of blackmail.
By closing his eyes, Trump exemplifies a blocking phenomenon - psychologically distancing himself from the words/ideas from which he feels the need to insulate himself.
Human beings will tend to look down and to their right during moments of guilt, shame, and emotional weakness - and here Trump shows us an example of this tell.
On cue, Donald Trump moves his arms and hands from a forward, wide-spread, position on the lectern - to a retracted, protective configuration - momentarily pulling them into his mid-line at the back of the lectern. This is a form of a fig-leaf (aka Genital Guarding) and the change is strongly significant for a considerably alpha emotional tone - downshifting to one which is quite beta. Trump is feeling vulnerable in this moment.
Trump TWICE looks over at Putin - indicating his anticipation and anxiety in the Russian's response. Trump is anxious. A person who is confident in their innocence would not have looked at Putin. Moreover, doing so makes him look like/indicates he feels as a subordinate to Putin.
Throughout most of the presser, Putin alternated between placing his legs a wide stance (more alpha) - back to one more narrowly spaced (more beta) - and then returning to a wider stance, etc. He continued this oscillatory behavior pattern throughout this portion of the exchange.
When he began to speak about the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, however, his feet went back to a wider stance and he held the forward portion of the lectern, also leaning his torso forward. This change represents is a considerably more alpha pattern.
Notice too Putin's wording, "... do you think that we tried to collect compromising material on each and every single one of them?". This response is a classic statement analysis giveaway from the former KGB intelligence officer - for while appearing to be rhetorical - it betrays his Freudian Slip/implication, that, although the Russian government couldn't get compromising material on them ALL - they did manage to get compromising material on SOME of the 500 American businessmen.
During 1:03:39, as he says, "... compromising ...", Putin gestures using a palm-down, head/neck-level illustrator - akin to brushing away an insect, a pest. This action is conscious and deliberate. It is Putin in his theatrical mode, yet he's trying a bit too hard. It's pseudo-dismissive. This can be best encapsulated by the oft-quoted line from Hamlet (with apologies to Shakespeare), "The lady (gentleman) doth protest too much, methinks."
Simultaneously with his pseudo-fly swatting, and at multiple additional times during his response, Putin also displays Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expressions (R2E2). This facial expression (a pseudo-disgust face) shows his desire/attempt to gain our rapport as co-rationalizers. When it's seen this frequently (or at crucial moments), the R2E2 expression is highly suspect for deception.
When Putin said, "When President Trump visited Moscow back then I didn't even know that he was in Moscow" (specifically, as the translator said, "I didn't even know that he was in Moscow" [1:03:56 -1:03:57]), Putin elevates the distal portion (toes) of his right foot - rocking back on his right heel. In this setting, this foot maneuver indicates a deception associated with a high-anxiety emotional state.
During 1:04:41 - 1:04:42, as Trump says, "if they had it, it would have been out long ago", Putin again raises his right foot in this same manner.
Of monumental importance is that Vladimir Putin never denied he had compromising material on Donald Trump. This is the statement analysis equivalent of red lights flashing and sirens blaring.
Moreover, Trump's parting comment of "if they had it, it would have been out long ago" - is an example of an extremely common "even if" tactic associated with deception.
SUMMARY: After detailed nonverbal analysis of this portion of the Trump-Putin press conference, the findings strongly support the allegation that the Russian government has "compromising material" (what the Russians call, "kompromat") on Donald Trump and/or his family. Statement analysis also indicates both men are being deceptive. President Trump is being blackmailed.
To date, this is one of the most widely shared images of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. It was taken during the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam on 11 November 2017.
From a nonverbal perspective, it's particularly telling. Vladimir Putin's expression is that of a partial, yet sincere smile with the necessary components of:
• Partially closed eyelids
• Concave-up furrows in each lower eyelid
• Partial mouth smile
• A relaxed forehead (while he does have age-related, passive "wrinkles", Putin's forehead muscles are not actively contracting)
President Putin's smile is not fully developed - and crucially, he's trying to suppress it. And as often occurs when one is suppressing a smile - blushing ensues.
Blushing cannot be consciously controlled.
Of course, blushing is NOT a requirement in order for a smile to be considered sincere - and all blushing does not coexist with a smile. However, if a person is blushing whilst smiling, their smile is virtually ALWAYS sincere.
It's profoundly important to keep in mind that you may not share the other person's motives for their smile or welcome their actions. What brings them joy-happiness won't necessarily do the same for you.
In this context, Mr. Putin's blushing likely is indicative of:
• Deception
• Clandestine motives/plans
• Difficulty containing his excitement
Much less likely causes include:
• Embarrassment
• Nervousness/Anxiety
Summary: The phenomenon of blushing is involuntary and uncontrollable, even by former KGB officers. Blushing is a signal that control has temporarily been lost. The person is letting a thought-emotion slip through - one which they would much rather conceal. Blushing during a smile always conveys the sincerity of the smile - but be warned, for it does not speak to the purity/ethics of their motives. This phenomenon is often significant for an incongruity versus their simultaneous spoken words. It's a literal and metaphorical red flag. During such disparities between nonverbal and verbal messages - it's the nonverbal language which is telling the truth.
