This is a reposting of an analysis originally published on 1 August 2016 (a little more than three months prior to the Presidential Election). The subject of this article is Donald Trump's and Russian President Vladimir Putin's relationship. More specifically, did then-candidate Trump know President Putin?
Updated cross-references at the bottom of the page, the title, and one word ("was" rather than "is") has been changed. The word "verbal" has been added and two added commas have been placed. Otherwise, the remainder of the content is unchanged.
There are many crucial moments in this video. One of particular importance is the issue of any possible relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Beginning at 2:16, George Stephanopoulos asks the Republican Candidate for President: "What exactly is your relationship with Vladimir Putin?"
Trump answers: "I have no relationship with Putin. I have no relationship with Putin."
Now, listen again carefully to Trump's response. In his first sentence, as he says the word "relationship", he stretches out his "r" pronunciation. Also, at the end of the word he stutters so that the word sounds like "... rrelationship,ip ...".
Of paramount importance, in his second sentence - Trump's speech trails off when he says, "Putin". The word is spoken much quieter than the other words in the sentence and also when compared to Trump's overwhelming pattern of talking louder than other people around him. Moreover, within speaking that single word, ("Putin") his volume is decrescendoing - subsequently, the end of the word "Putin" can barely be heard.
As he says, "with Putin" in the second sentence, Trump breaks his eye contact with Stephanopoulos. The timing of his looking away is crucial because he is making a declarative statement with the subject of his sentence (Putin) as well as the volume patterns mentioned previously.
Moreover, Trump also looks down to his right. When a momentary drop of eye contact does occur during deception, this is the quadrant to which most right-hand dominant people will most often look (Trump is right-handed).
To review, we see the following behavior clustered during Trump's short answer:
1. Stuttering during word "relationship"
2. Decrescendo/rapidly waning volume with a crucial word ("Putin")
A. Atypical pattern vs. rest of sentence
B. Atypical speech pattern for Trump
3. Lack of eye contact during a "Putin"
4. Looking down to the right during "with Putin"
Summary: Donald Trump has a hesitancy to speak both the words, "relationship" - as well as "Putin". He also does not want to look Stephanopoulos in the eye when he says, "Putin". Donald Trump is exhibiting an absolutely classic cluster of paralanguage and nonverbal behaviors which are disparate with his words. Donald Trump believes he has a relationship with Vladimir Putin - and his belief is contradictory with his verbal statement which he made during this interview. Donald Trump was lying.
The next time Steven Spielberg is directing a scene in which an actor is telling a lie - he should look to this example.
This nonverbal analysis is (thus far) the second dissection of the Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit on this site (see below for a link to the first one).
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the Helsinki Presser focusing on several key responses of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump -
as Trump is answering a question from Jeff Mason (Reuters).
JEFF MASON (beginning at 4:27:16): Thank you. Mr. President, you tweeted this morning that it's U.S. foolishness, stupidity, and the Mueller probe that is responsible for the decline in U.S. relations with Russia. Do you hold Russia at all accountable for anything in particular? And if so, what would you, what would you consider them - that they are responsible for?
DONALD TRUMP: Yes I do. I hold, ah, both countries responsible. I think the that the United States has been foolish. I think we've all been foolish. We shoulda had this dialogue a long time (4:27:44 - 4:27:46) ago, [deep inhale] a long time, frankly, (4:27:47 - 4:27:49) before I got to office. And I think we're all, ah, to blame. I 'ink that the United States now has stepped forward, along with Russia - and we're getting together and we have a chance to do some great things, whether it's nuclear proliferation in terms of stopping, we have to do it. Ultimately, that's probably - the most important thing that we can be (Scratches four times in front of his right ear, 4:28:05 - 4:28:07) working on. But, ah, (4:28:08 - 4:28:09) I do feel that, ah, we have both made some mistakes. ∆ (Begin fig leaf, 28:14) I think that thee, the probe is a disaster for our country. I think it's (4:28:19) kept us apart. It's kept us separated. There was no collusion - at all Ω (4:28:25, left eyebrow raises). Ah, everybody knows it. Ah, people are being brought out to the fore. Ah, so far, that I know, virtually, none of it related to the campaign. And they're gonna have to try really hard to find something that did relate to the campaign. That was a clean campaign. I beat Hillary - Clinton easily and, frankly, ah, we beat her ∆ (End Fig leaf, 4:28:46) - and I'm not even saying from the standpoint, we won that race. And it's a shame there could even be a little bit of a cloud over it. Ah, people know that. People understand it. But the main thing — and we discussed this also — is zero collusion. It has had a negative impact upon - the relationship of the two largest nuclear powers in the world. We have ninety percent of nuclear power between the two countries. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous what's going on with the probe.
During 4:27:44 - 4:27:46,Vladimir Putin displays a Tongue in Cheek dynamic, just AFTER Donald Trump says, "Yes I do. I hold, ah, both countries responsible. I think the that
the United States has been foolish. I think we've all been foolish. We
shoulda ..." and AS Trump says, "had this dialogue a long time".
Putin displays another Tongue-in-Cheek nonverbal as Trump is saying, "long time, frankly" (during 4:27:47 - 4:27:49).
Yet another Tongue-in-Cheek display is manifested by the Russian President as Trump says, "But, ah" (4:28:08 - 4:28:09).
And Putin displays a fourth Tongue-in-Cheek display as Trump is saying, "I think it's" (during 4:28:19).
In this context, a Tongue-in-Cheek display is a strong nonverbal indicator of the thought-emotions of "I Just Won" - or more colloquially, "I gotcha"! There's also a significant emotional tone of smugness projected with the Tongue-in Cheek dynamic.
During 4:28:05 - 4:28:07, just after Donald Trump says, "... whether it's nuclear proliferation in terms of stopping, we have to do it...", Vladimir Putin scratches the region just in front of his right ear.
When displayed by a person who is listening (here, Putin), this specific signal is highly indicative of hearing someone (Trump) say something with
which they disagree - or something they believe to be an attempt at deception.
Intriguingly, the number of scratches in front of the ear is virtually always four to six. Vladimir Putin scratches four times.
Just after Donald Trump says, "There was no collusion - at all" (during 4:28:25 and notated above with the Ω symbol), Putin's left eyebrow raises. This is a strong nonverbal signal that Putin does not believe Trump's statement.
In this context - when it's being displayed by the alleged co-conspirator - in real-time, during an active denial - this facial display is an absolute red flag. It's an air raid siren blaring six inches away.
Please watch this expression on the video to fully appreciate the dynamics and context of Putin's facial display.
If we pan-out the camera and look over at Donald Trump, we notice that Trump's hands are retracted posteriorly and withdrawn to the center of his body. They had previously been holding the sides of the lectern (toward the front). In this segment, he maintains this posture from 4:28:14 through 4:28:46 (notated by the ∆ symbol). The subjects about which Trump was speaking during this time include Robert Mueller's investigation, allegations of collusion, his 2016 presidential campaign, and Hillary Clinton.
Although we cannot see his hands directly they are either in a Fig Leaf configuration (also known as Genital Guarding) - or very nearly so.
The fig leaf is a particularly Beta body posture. When we see this dynamic change, it projects weakness and vulnerability to the subjects being discussed.
Moreover, when standing on stage with another person, the one displaying a fig-leaf is signaling his subordination. The American President feels he is Putin's subordinate.
SUMMARY: Analysis of Vladimir Putin in the above-described video segment of The Helsinki Summit, demonstrates that the Russian President's thought-feelings indicate that he strongly believes he has won the game he is playing with Trump.
Alarmingly, this evaluation also shows that Putin believes that nuclear proliferation should NOT be curtailed - and/or he believes Trump is lying when Trump is saying this.
In addition, and of profound importance, Putin does NOT believe Trump's statement, "There was no collusion - at all". Because the alleged collusion on Trump's part would have to have been coordinated with and conducted by Putin and/or his surrogates, this finding nonverbally indicts both leaders.
Moreover, this nonverbal analysis also demonstrates that Donald Trump has significantly low confidence with regard tohis 2016 campaign, the results of the Presidential Election, Hillary Clinton - and toward the investigation led by United States Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In addition, Trump himself feels that he is Putin's subordinate.
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.
There are many crucial moments in this video. One of particular importance is the issue of any possible relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Beginning at 2:16, George Stephanopoulos asks the Republican Candidate for President: "What exactly is your relationship with Vladimir Putin?"
Trump answers: "I have no relationship with Putin. I have no relationship with Putin."
Now, listen again carefully to Trump's response. In his first sentence, as he says the word "relationship", he stretches out his "r" pronunciation. Also, at the end of the word he stutters so that the word sounds like "... rrelationship,ip ...".
Of paramount importance, in his second sentence - Trump's speech trails off when he says, "Putin". The word is spoken much quieter than the other words in the sentence and also when compared to Trump's overwhelming pattern of talking louder than other people around him. Moreover, within speaking that single word, ("Putin") his volume is decrescendoing - subsequently the end of the word "Putin" can barely be heard.
As he says, "with Putin" in the second sentence, Trump breaks his eye contact with Stephanopoulos. The timing of his looking away is crucial because he is making a declarative statement with the subject of his sentence (Putin) as well as the volume patterns mentioned previously.
Moreover Trump also looks down to his right. When a momentary drop of eye contact does occur during deception, this is the quadrant to which most right-hand dominant people will most often look (Trump is right-handed).
To review, we see the following behavior clustered during Trump's short answer:
1. Stuttering during word "relationship"
2. Decrescendo/rapidly waning volume with a crucial word ("Putin")
A. Atypical pattern vs. rest of sentence
B. Atypical speech pattern for Trump
3. Lack of eye contact during a "Putin"
4. Looking down to the right during "with Putin"
Summary: Donald Trump has a hesitancy to speak both the words, "relationship" - as well as "Putin". He also does not want to look Stephanopoulos in the eye when he says, "Putin". Donald Trump is exhibiting an absolutely classic cluster of paralanguage and nonverbal behaviors which are disparate with his words. Donald Trump believes he has a relationship with Vladimir Putin - and his belief is contradictory with his statement which he made during this interview. Donald Trump is lying.
The next time Steven Spielberg is directing a scene in which an actor is telling a lie - he should look to this example.
During the remembrance ceremonies marking the Centenary of the end of WWI
today in Paris, the interaction between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin
was noteworthy.
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the two men's exchange.
Many people have speculated regarding the significance of President Trump's jacket adjustment after shaking hands with President Putin. This is a common alpha-upregulatory behavior. Alpha upregulators are a set of body language behaviors displayed by individuals who normally may be moderately or even highly alpha personalities - when they're caught in the midst of a relatively beta moment. This is exactly what's occurring here.
Although he's normally alpha, Donald Trump feels he's beta to Vladimir Putin's alpha status. It's important to emphasize that this is Trump's perception - and this is why he feels the need to upregulate. Yet while Trump's psyche attempts to dial itself up, Putin is already walking away to his seat.
This is literally the same behavior of a beta gorilla halfheartedly pounding his chest - after the alpha male gorilla has already established his dominance.
Now, let's back up a bit. Just as Putin finishes shaking Trump's hand, he's trying hard to suppress his mouth smile. This is not a sincere smile - and in Putin's efforts to suppress it, along with his tightened mustache region, his eyelids are opened very wide as his eyebrows also elevate. Putin, an ex-KGB officer, in this moment, cannot maintain a poker face (a skill at which he's quite accomplished and otherwise routinely successful). This is profound.
Putin then gives Trump the Thumbs-up gesture. This universal nonverbal signal of optimism very much matches his facial expression. Note how his forehead has now relaxed, his eyebrows are also lowered and he has concave-up furrows in his lower eyelids (all requirements for a sincere smile). His mouth smile, while still somewhat suppressed, has broken through the thin facade. Putin is pleased.
As Vladimir reaches to shake Melania's hand (whilst still smiling), Trump pats Putin on the back. Note Trump's Jaw Retraction - along with an Inward Lip Roll. In this context, this nonverbal cluster indicates an effort to suppress strong emotions.
Notice Emmanuel Macron's expression in this instant - it's one of contempt (a slight snarl-like configuration).
Trump maintains this jaw retraction as he stands back up. Macron's expression of contempt continues - combined with his right forehead elevating in disbelief.
Angela Merkel's central forehead is elevated along with a pseudo-smile, indicating her disgust and incredulity.
Putin then pats Trump on his left arm - just above his elbow. It's important to note that Putin did not touch Macron or Merkel in this manner.
But if we look back even further - at a few crucial seconds -just as Putin was approaching the other leaders, we see a display of his which was omitted in the first video. Please watch just a few seconds - beginning at the 1:37:45 mark - of this second, comprehensive video.
As Putin approaches - walking closer to the other heads-of-state, he shows us a classic Tongue-In-Cheek display.
In this context - clustered with the other simultaneous nonverbal signals (e.g., his elevated central forehead), Putin's tongue-in-cheek behavior telegraphs his smug feelings of "I just won", "I gotcha".
SUMMARY: Donald Trump's nonverbal behavior in Paris today, indicates he feels that he is beta to Vladimir Putin's alpha. The American president clearly doth acquiesce. Moreover, Putin cannot contain his sincere emotions of joy-happiness with his dominance over Trump - and by extension, the United States.
In the initial milliseconds, just before their hands make contact, note that President Putin's hand is angled a bit more in a palm-down orientation, while President Trump's hand is necessarily more palm-up.
A palm-down positioning projects dominance. Not surprisingly, it's also a common handshake practice of many alpha personalities, including Putin (e.g., at the commencement of the 2013 G20 with President Barack Obama).
Trump then pulls Putin's arm closer to his torso - which is a truncated version of the maneuver which, for Trump, is very routine during handshakes. This dynamic gives him leverage to more vertically-orient his and Putin's hands, changing each to a more neutral position.
Trump then pats the underside of Putin's forearm three times with his left hand. While those who use this maneuver will momentarily up-regulate their alpha status (both internally - in their own psyche and externally to others) - there's another important and competing dynamic.
Grabbing the forearm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder, etc., is an invasion of the other person's personal space (intimate space). It's a false friendship/false intimacy dynamic - one which the vast majority of people do not like. Indeed, many people take offense to these variations and thus such practices will start any kind of greeting or meeting off on the proverbial wrong foot.
President Putin then displays a nonverbal gesture very commonly practiced by President Trump - index finger pointing.
In general, index finger pointing is highly discouraged - for it's universally offensive. Yet some people perform this illustrator as a nonverbal way of saying "We are on the same team", "It's Us versus them", "Let's do this together", and/or "Our mindset is one in the same/similar". This nonverbal signal is manipulative - and a body language method of "Forced Teaming" (de Becker).
In this final image, President Trump again violates Putin's intimate space by patting his shoulder/upper back region. This action is rapport destroying - yet those who use this (and similar maneuvers) are either tone-deaf its results - and/or they place greater value on their short-term, power-surge feelings of dominance this nonverbal display evokes.
Putin's hands are uncharacteristically placed in a relatively beta position on top of the table (which is not recommended in this context).
Summary: In the initial meeting between President Trump and President Putin, Trump nonverbally overstepped. While Trump's action of "out-alpha-ing" Putin with his dominance displays made Trump feel momentarily in-charge, from Putin's perspective they were rapport destroying. President Putin made a mistake too - that of projecting a bit of a beta emotional tone at the very end of this exchange.
The recent summit in Helsinki has refocused attention on specific events surrounding the 2016 US Presidential Election. One of these moments was a crucial portion of the third debate held on 19 October - twenty days prior to the election. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of that exchange.
DONALD TRUMP (continuing at 27:21): He [Putin] has no respect for her. He has no respect for our president. And I'll tell you what. We're in very serious trouble. Because we have a country with tremendous numbers of nuclear warheads - eighteen hundred by the way. Where they expanded and we didn't. Eighteen hundred nuclear warheads. And she is playing chicken. Look.
CHRIS WALLACE (over-talking): W-, w-, wait.
DONALD TRUMP: Putin - from everything I see has no respect for this - person.
HILLARY CLINTON: Well, that's because he'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States.
DONALD TRUMP (over-talking): No puppet. No Puppet.
HILLARY CLINTON: And it is pretty clear -
DONALD TRUMP (over-talking): You're the puppet.
HILLARY CLINTON: It's pretty clear - you won't admit -
DONALD TRUMP (over-talking): No, you're the puppet. HILLARY CLINTON: ... that the Russians have engaged in cyber attacks against the United States of America. That you encouraged espionage against our people. That you are willing to spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do whatever he wants to do. And that you continue to get help from him because he has a very clear favorite in this race. So, I, I think that this is such an unprecedented, ah, situation. We've never had a foreign government trying to interfere in our election. We have seventeen, seventeen intelligence agencies, civilian and military who have all concluded that these espionage attacks, these cyber attacks, come from the highest levels of the Kremlin. And they are designed to influence our election. I find that deeply disturbing.
During 27:51 - 27:52, as he says, "No puppet. No puppet." - candidate Trump displays a classic Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression (abbreviated as R2E2).
It's important here to emphasize that the person who is displaying this dynamic facial movement - is not feeling Empathy or Rapport - but they're trying to evoke these emotions in other people. It's manipulative. They are trying to get you to rationalize - and often while rationalizing themselves.
The Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression strongly resembles disgust - but it's accompanied by a side-to-side ("No") head movement.
Verbal language accompanying the R2E2 is virtually always refuting statements, e.g., "You don't want that", "I'm sure he didn't mean to say that", or "No puppet. No puppet."
This is a quintessential example of the importance of correlating verbal and nonverbal behavior.
Another word is conspicuous in its absence. It should jump out at you. Donald Trump did NOT use the word "I". If he had true conviction in his denial, he should have said, "I'm no puppet" or "I'm not a puppet." When a person says, "Sorry" - or "Love you", their words don't carry anywhere near the weight, intentionality, or the emotions as, "I'm sorry" and "I love you". Trump left out the word "I" because he doesn't believe his own words. This is especially true when "I" is one of the most commonly spoken words across almost all languages. Trump is not taking ownership. His omission of the word "I" is amplified even further given Trump's narcissism. When a person with such a strong ego leaves off the first person singular pronoun - particularly in such an important rebuttal - red flags are raised.
All mentally-healthy human beings make this expression on occasion - but you should beware when you see the R2E2 used frequently or during particularly important moments. This behavior is a screaming red flag.
Donald Trump's nonverbal and paralanguage behavior indicates he's trying far too hard to convince us that he's not acting in concert with Vladimir Putin.
The full expression of the R2E2 nonverbal cluster is impossible to capture in a still image. Please watch the video several times at regular speed, 1/2 speed, 1/4 speed - and once again at regular speed to fully appreciate this behavior in context.
At multiple times during Secretary Clinton's response, Donald Trump nods his head up-and-down in a classic "Yes" affirmation. Trump nods five times in only 43 seconds, immediately following Clinton saying,
"... that the Russians have engaged in ..." (nodding yes during 27:59)
"... break up NATO ..." (nodding yes during 28:14 - 28:15)
"... do whatever he wants to do. And that you ..." (nodding yes during 28:17 - 28:18)
"... We have seventeen, seventeen intelligence agencies ..." (nodding yes during 28:37 - 28:38) "... who have all concluded that ..." (nodding yes during 28:42)
If candidate Trump disagreed with Secretary Clinton, he should have been shaking his head side-to-side in a "No" gesture (illustrator) after each of his opponent's statements, rather than in a "Yes" up-and-down dynamic. Trump's multiple nodding agreements are very clear nonverbal demonstrations that his subconscious agrees with Clinton regarding his clandestine cooperation with Putin - as well as with Russia's cyber attacks.
Mr. Trump only took four drinks of water during this 90-minute debate. It's not a coincidence that one of these occurred during 28:03 - 28:05, just after his puppet denial, and immediately after Secretary Clinton said, "... that the Russians have engaged in cyber attacks against the United States of America. That you encouraged ...".
Anxiety acts quickly to dry up one's mouth and sudden thirst is a powerful indicatorof this emotion.While anxiety alone does not imply deception, when taken in context with other verbal, paralanguage, and nonverbal indicators seen here - Trump's sudden dry mouth is highly suspicious.
Another strong anxiety tell is Trump's adjustment of his microphone. Donald Trump is very skilled at NOT touching his face when he's experiencing anxiety or while lying - which is highly unusual (although of course, he does occasionally do so). Most people - both the honest and the deceptive - touch their faces' far more often than the President does.
However, a surrogate behavior for facial touching is microphone adjustment - which Trump does fairly often. In the segment discussed here, he does so during 28:10 - 28:12, just after Hillary Clinton says, "... you are willing to spout the Putin
line ..."
Another dramatic insight into Trump's thought-emotions is displayed just after Clinton says, "... And that you continue to get help from him ..." - Trump smiles(28:20). This display is particularly important to watch at regular speed, 1/4, 1/2, and again at full speed. The image immediately above shows him just as his smile is forming. Note that his left side begins first - with the right side of his mouth momentarily suppressing it.
A split second later (also during 28:20), Trump closes both eyes in a variation of a "Joker Smile" (referring to court jesters, scary clowns, and the Batman villain). None of the candidate's teeth are visible and the shape of his mouth opening is completely wrong. Trump's mouth is vectored strongly to the sides (laterally) - rather than primarily vertically as it would be during a sincere smile. His bottom lip is curled momentarily out. This deliberate and hyperbolic expression of insincere surprise combined with an insincere smile is - always duplicitous.
A second later (during 28:21), Trump's center forehead elevates simultaneously with his false mouth smile. While everyone uses this expression once in a while, those who use it often (as Trump does, and not coincidentally, Putin as well) have a very high correlation with Antisocial Personality Disorder (commonly termed, 'Sociopaths').
Notice also, that Trump blushes during this moment. Blushing while smiling (feigned smiling) during denial has an extremely high correlation with deception.
Summary: Donald Trump's nonverbal behavior during this segment of the third 2016 Presidential Debate indicates he knew Russia was in the midst of a cyber-attack on the United States, that he welcomed it, and that Trump does, in fact, believe that he is subordinate to Vladimir Putin.
