Body Language Analysis No. 4399: Donald Trump — Stalling, Protection, Deception, Contempt — Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

In this image, Trump is holding his hand to his ear. It's a common gesture which, on its surface says, "Please speak louder / I can't quite hear what you're saying". Presidents have performed this act for years — Ronald Reagan used it on nearly a daily basis. Of course, it's possible that he may not have heard the question clearly. But, more often than not, it's primarily used as a stalling technique so Trump will have a few seconds longer in order to formulate his answer.

If we look closer, we can see Trump is holding his right hand to his left ear. To accomplish this dynamic, he must reach his arm and hand across his torso. It's possible that Trump is holding something in his left hand, although, he rarely carries anything. What's dramatically more likely, is that Trump feels threatened by the nature of the question and this nonverbal configuration affords him more emotional cover/comfort. Reaching across one's body is a protective posture — a truncated form of self-hugging.

While Trump's facial expression in this moment, is for him relatively unanimated — it's far from neutral. There's tension in his mid-face, his eyebrows are vectored downward and his eyelids are partially closed. There's significant muscular contraction of his lower eyelids. This facial expression indicates critical evaluation and suppressed anger. The President is also displaying subtle contempt on his right mid-face (a subtle snarl-like expression). He doesn't like the question that's being posed.

The etiology of the president's rhinorrhea (runny nose) is not publicly known — however, it's chronic and unrelated to the other components of this nonverbal display.

SUMMARY: In this moment, President Trump is, with high probability, hearing the question being asked, but he's stalling for time. He needs the extra seconds to formulate an answer — which strongly suggests deception. Moreover, Donald Trump feels threatened by the subject of the question and feels the need to protect himself and/or cover/hide his answer. The President also has anger and contempt for the question and/or the person asking it.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4398: Mohammed bin Salman regarding the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi ("60 Minutes" Interview)

Body Language Analysis No. 4397: Donald Trump Defends Himself Against The Whistleblower

Body Language Analysis No. 4396: Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation Hearing — Reading Between the Lines

Body Language Analysis No. 4395: Mike Pompeo - "Just the Past Ten Days Alone, We've Killed Over a Thousand Taliban"

Body Language Analysis No. 4394: Donald Trump, "I am The Chosen One"

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4340: Ruby Rose gets Emotional regarding her new Role as Batwoman

Body Language Analysis No. 4336: Alita: Battle Angel, Large Eyes, and Sexual Attraction

Body Language Analysis No. 4332: Richard Nixon, Nikita Khrushchev, and The Kitchen Debate

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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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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 1488: Ron Paul's Glasses, Authority and Time

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul is shown here taking off his glasses. This is a common body language tell when stalling for time is the emotional driver. Specifically, when a person needs a few moments to emotionally or intellectually process new information or when formulating a decision, the glasses will often be removed. Very often in such scenarios the glasses will be repeatedly taken off, put back on, taken off again, etc. Cleaning the lenses during these maneuvers is also often seen and is a further stalling adjunct. Glasses are also commonly removed at the point of the feigned theatrical denouement of an argument - commonly displayed in the court room, a political setting or during negotiations.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 741: Pencil in Mouth

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is shown here during the Greek debt crisis negotiations holding a pencil to her mouth. This is a classic nonverbal signal of true contemplation and the need for more information (Nierenberg and Calero). Depending on the other Body Language signs it is clustered with, it may also be indicative of stalling for time. Often a pen or pencil is used as a surrogate for a finger or thumb. This is a form of what is known as a Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier (MAP) and is correlated with increased anxiety.

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