An expert has called out Trump for his ‘mockery’ of his allies
Donald Trump isn’t new to making bold statements, but a body language expert has suggested his movement during a speech may have showcased his ‘disdain’ for his European allies.
Donald Trump appeared to ruffle some feathers with his comments reflecting on the VE celebrations across Europe.
On May 15, Trump addressed US troops stationed in Qatar as part of his trip to the Middle East and made his feelings about the VE day celebrations pretty clear.
For those out of the loop, VE day is on May 8, also known as Victory in Europe day and marks Germany’s surrender to the Allies in World War 2.
Trump was seemingly baffled that European leaders were celebrating and US wasn’t.
He said: “A week ago, May 8, I call up a certain country and they say, ‘Oh we’re celebrating the victory of World War Two today’. And I say, ‘Oh okay.'”
Donald Trump said Europe would be speaking German or Japanese without them (Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
He continued: “I speak to one of the presidents or prime ministers or whatever. And they were so busy, ‘Oh yes we’re celebrating the victory of WW2’. And I speak to another one and they’re celebrating.
“And the fact is Russia was celebrating, France was celebrating, everyone but us.
“And we’re the ones that won the war. We won the war and they help, but without us they don’t win the war, we’re all speaking German – without us they’re speaking German and maybe a little Japanese too.”
While these words have been interpreted to be insulting to European leaders and a misrepresentation of the facts of World War 2, a body language expert has suggested the US president may have also been saying more with his movement during the speech.
Dr Beth Dawson argued that Trump’s posture throughout his speech appeared relax to subconsciously convey that ‘he is in control’.
She added that non-verbally it was a ‘masterclass’ in power dynamics wrapped in storytelling to amplify how he perceives his allies, with ‘condescension and disdain’.
She added: “When Trump refers flippantly to ‘one of the presidents, or prime ministers, or whatever,’ the dismissiveness is verbal as well as physical. That trailing ‘whatever’ carries a mocking undertone and shows a lack of respect and a deliberate downplaying of status.
A body language expert insisted Trump showed ‘disdain’ through his speech(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“His body language reinforces this further. As he mentions how ‘busy the other countries are’, he lifts his elbow in a casual, dismissive shrug, yet another show of dominance, indifference, and control over the narrative. He is also dismissing the other countries, and his mocking tone of voice is reinforced by the choice of language. When talking about another interaction: I spoke to another one and they were celebrating…’, The use of ‘another one’ is deliberate – he is dismissive and condescending.”
UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.Featured Image Credit: YouTube/diarioas
Topics: Donald Trump, World War 2, News, US News
Updated 18:21 6 May 2025 GMT+1Published 18:04 6 May 2025 GMT+1
Body language expert breaks down Trump’s reaction to meeting Canada’s PM moments after creating scathing post criticizing country
The leaders of North America have met for the first time, and a body language expert believes it isn’t as friendly as we’re led to believe
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney billed himself as the man to take on President Donald Trump during his campaign, and the gloves are already off, according to a body language expert.
At midday Eastern Time (May 6), Trump welcomed Carney to the White House, but not before taking to Truth Social to issue a damning post of Canada.
“I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney,” he wrote. “I very much want to work with him, but cannot understand one simple TRUTH — Why is America subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection, and many other things?”
Trump’s post continued: “We don’t need their Cars, we don’t need their Energy, we don’t need their Lumber, we don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain.
Mark Carney meets Donald Trump at White House
Credit: Fox News
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“They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us! The Prime Minister will be arriving shortly and that will be, most likely, my only question of consequence.”
Carney has also issued some fighting words of his own, previously telling his supporters in Ottawa: “As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country – never.
“But these are not these are not idle threats, President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us – that will never, that will never ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed.”
Now, body language expert, Beth Dawson, has explained what she thinks was going on when the 78-year-old POTUS greeted the 60-year-old Canadian prime minister on the steps of the White House today.
Donald Trump welcomed Mark Carney to the White House (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Dawson said: “Mark Carney approaches President Trump with his head slightly inclined forward and initiates a handshake, simultaneously placing a hand on Trump’s elbow. The forward head position suggests assertiveness, yet also shows a subtle note of submission: Carney appears somewhat apprehensive.
“The elbow touch, however, shows that he wants to establish connection on equal terms. His expression is one of determination. Carney is not passive, but he is also careful not to come across as overly forceful and he does seem slightly intimidated.
“His posture reflects respect for the encounter, though he is evidently intent on not being dominated. The subtle tilt of his head reveals a degree of deference.”
The body language expert further claims that while Carney touches Trump’s elbow, Trump ‘raises his right shoulder’, which she says is a ‘classic dominance signal’.
Dawson added: “Trump’s posture is initially slightly stooped, indicating a welcoming stance, but shortly thereafter he makes a subtle shift to stand more upright and raises his fist in a defiant gesture, an unmistakable display of dominance.
Dawson said Trump attempts a ‘classic dominance signal’ by ‘raising his right shoulder’ (Fox News)
“Throughout, Carney maintains a fixed smile and steady eye contact.”
However, when turning to face the cameras, Dawson says he ‘clasps his hands in a self-soothing gesture and glances up at Trump for cues’, which she says ‘again revealing a hint of unease’.
“There is a visible, if restrained, sense that he is slightly intimidated in Trump’s presence.” Dawson continues.
While speaking inside the Oval Office, Trump told Carney it was ‘an honor’ to have him in his place of work, before lauding his campaign for office.
“I thought you were excellent [in the election race] and I think we have a lot of things in common,” Trump said.
He then touched on his ambitions for Canada to become the 51st US state, telling Carney: “I still believe [Canada could be the 51st] state but it takes two to tango.
“It would really be a wonderful marriage because it’s two places that get along very well,” to which former banker replied (via the BBC): “Some places are never for sale.”Featured Image Credit: YouTube/CNBC-TV18
Topics: Donald Trump, Mark Carney, Canada, Politics
Updated 13:49 11 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 13:02 11 Sep 2024 GMT+1
Body language expert breaks down Donald Trump’s wife Melania’s ‘very odd’ video after she makes jaw-dropping claim about his assassination attempt
Melania Trump issued a statement following the attempt on her husband’s life in July
A body language expert had broken down the ‘odd’ video recently posted online by Melania Trump.
On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a Republican rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The 20-year-old fired several shots in the former president’s direction, but Trump miraculously survived the ordeal after turning his head at the last minute, meaning Crooks’ bullet grazed his ear instead of fatally injuring him.
In his initial statement, Trump thanked the United States Secret Service and law enforcement for their ‘rapid response’ and added that he ‘knew immediately that something was wrong’ when he ‘heard a whizzing sound’ before the bullet snagged his ear.
He later credited ‘God alone’ for saving his life in a second statement.
Melania Trump addresses Donald’s assassination attempt
Credits: @melaniatrump/Instagram
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Questions have since been raised about how Crooks was able to get so close to taking the presidential candidate’s life when Trump had masses of security personnel on hand at the time – and one person who is seemingly keen to have questions answered is Trump’s wife of almost 20 years, Melania.
Melania has insisted that there’s ‘more to the story’ and said that we need to ‘uncover the truth’.
Speaking in an video shared to Instagram yesterday (September 10), the former First Lady said: “The attempt to end my husband’s life was a horrible, distressing experience.
“Now the silence around it feels heavy. I can’t help but wonder why didn’t law enforcement officials arrest shooter before the speech.
“There is definitely more to this story. And we need to uncover the truth.”
Donald Trump was rushed from the stage after the shooting in July (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The end of the video went on to advertise her upcoming memoir simply titled Melania.
Following the unexpected release of the video, expert Darren Stanton has broken down Melania’s body language in the clip.
Speaking on behalf of SpinGenie, Stanton told UNILAD: “It’s quite odd, it’s almost like it’s AI. It doesn’t seem to be that authentic in terms of Melania’s truth.”
“It doesn’t seem to be passionate or authentic,” he went on to say.
“It completely lacks emotion. The body language is not consistent with the verbal, it’s not congruent. It’s not to say she’s being deceptive but it doesn’t match up.
“It’s just very odd.”
Stanton also commented on Melania’s appearance on the final night of the Republican National Convention last month.
She joined her husband on stage and received what could only be described as a slightly awkward kiss from the ex-POTUS.
Stanton said: “When they’re on stage, Melania comes on, and Donald makes a huge thing of kissing her on the cheek. What’s interesting is the emotion is not reciprocated by Melania.”
The body language expert continued: “She holds hands with him but then edges off the stage straight away, almost side-steps off.
“Donald grabs her hand, but she moves out of the way, with him then following.
“When we’re not happy about something we tend to move out the way, which is what Melania does here.”
Body language expert Darren Stanton suggested that the Trumps aren’t ‘authentic’ (ABC News)
Stanton went on to say that Trump ‘doesn’t seem authentic’ and suggested that the pair were just trying to put on a united front.
“Trump is very keen to create this family image to the media, that everything is hunky dory,” he further noted.
“However, when Melania comes on stage, she doesn’t face him, there’s no matching or mirroring. He gives her a kiss, but it feels quite an odd, contrived manoeuvre.”Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Melania Trump/Getty/REBECCA DROKE
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Updated 07:02 7 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 00:47 7 Nov 2024 GMT
Body language expert breaks down Kamala Harris’ ‘revealing tell’ during first speech after Donald Trump’s victory
Harris appeared to show a ‘mixture of happiness and sadness’
Kamala Harris gave a ‘powerful first impression’ during her concession speech earlier today, according to body language expert Patti Wood.
Following a months-long presidential race, Republican nominee Donald Trump emerged victorious last night, securing 295 electoral votes and confirming his return to the Oval Office in January 2025 as the 47th President of the United States.
After reportedly calling him to concede the election, Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage at her alma mater, Howard University, to publicly address the nation and her supporters.
Harris addressed the nation from Howard University. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” Harris said in her concession speech. “The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people.”
As Harris arrived on stage to a roar of applause from the crowd, body language expert, professional speaker, and author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma Patti Wood told UNILAD that the vice president appeared ‘powerful and confident.’
“Coming on stage, from backstage, to the podium by herself without even being introduced was a bold, brave move,” Wood shared. “It gives a powerful first impression.”
“[Harris] smiles and waves high in the air several times, and claps with her arms up and out towards the audience,” Wood continued. “A multitude of ‘up’ body language cues that indicate happiness and joy. That she still feels powerful and confident…It makes her look like the winner.”
When Harris begins to address the crowd, Wood notes that she does so with a ‘large open smile,’ ‘her cheeks lifted,’ and ‘her hand resting on her chest,’ which she explains are all indications that ‘the smile is not fake’ and that she ‘feels the crowd’s love which makes her truly happy.’
Wood explains Harris could feel ‘the crowd’s love’ which made ‘her truly happy.’ (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
As Harris continued on with her speech, Wood mentions her body language shifts, noting that ‘we can see her bracing herself to speak’ as she begins to take deep breaths and moves her shoulders back.
“She gives a more prissy, forced, tight smile, and this slightly sour smile [is] letting you know the taste of what she is going to have to say is not sweet,” Wood explains. “She says ‘the light of America’s promise will always burn bright’ but with some emotional vocal fry and slight squinting. It’s a great statement, but I would have liked it to be more confidently delivered.
“As she finishes, she looks down, brows down, and tight lipped, trembling chin, holding back tears,” Wood adds. “She does follow it up with…’As long as we keep fighting’ with a slightly stronger delivery and gesturing with a pointed finger, but her voice breaks.”
Harris’ body language the shifts as her speech goes on. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
While Wood notes that you can ‘see’ Harris’ love when she addresses her husband Douglas Emhoff and their family, she also explains that there is a ‘revealing tell’ when Harris begins talking about President-Elect Donald Trump.
“There is a revealing ‘tell’ when she says, ‘Earlier today I talked to President-Elect Trump’ as she gestures with a downward push motion, symbolically pushing him down as she frowns,” Wood explains.
“The most potent illuminating moment occurs after she makes several strong statements,” she continues. “[Harris] sounds strong, angry, and opens her mouth wide with power. Then her eyes flutter briefly showing that she may be hiding even more anger,” she says, noting that these moments particularly occurred when Harris urged her supporters to keep fighting and to never give up.
Wood notes Harris’ body language indicated anger when she urged her supporters to keep fighting. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“There is a moment where she begins a statement, ‘To the young people who are watching’… You see a mixture of happiness and sadness. She feels both simultaneously. She is saying some very motivational things and using the word fight many times. But as she continues to say it, she is no longer mad. Her voice is strong.”
When ending her speech, Harris urged people to mobilize, organize, and stay perseverant even in difficult moments, referencing what she called an old adage: “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”
Wood notes that Harris is making a ‘positive statement using the word light’ here, emphasizing that she ‘clearly believes people will need to fight, but her final message was about light.’Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images / Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Topics: Kamala Harris, US News, Politics, Donald Trum
Published 19:21 28 Jan 2025 GMT
Body language expert breaks down Melania Trump’s ‘passive aggressive’ new First Lady portrait
The White House has released the official portrait of First Lady Melania Trump
A body language expert has analysed Melania Trump’s ‘powerful’ First Lady portrait.
Yesterday (January 27), the official portrait of First Lady Melania Trump – taken on January 21 in the Yellow Oval Room by photographer Régine Mahaux – was released by the White House.
And body language and behavioural expert, Darren Stanton, has since weighed in about what the portrait apparently says about the partner of US President Donald Trump.
Donald and Melania Trump’s first dance
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Posture
In the image, Melania is stood up straight, her hands resting on a table, her body positioned straight at the camera.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair Slots, Darren Stanton tells UNILAD that Melania is standing with a very ‘open’ but ‘dominant posture’ which tells the viewer she ‘hasn’t come to play’.
He explains: “It’s an extension of the reverse staple gesture that Donald Trump makes, which is when you make a bridge out of your hands and then turn it upside-down. It’s basically saying, ‘I’m not someone to be messed with, I’m my own person, and I’m the most important person here’.”
Melania’s hands are also ‘spread out’ which is ‘part of this steeple gesture’, as he adds: “The more space we create with our hands, something Trump does a lot of, or any other politician that wants to be perceived as powerful.”
Not only are the gestures suggestive of ‘dominance,’ but Stanton goes so far as to analyze Melania’s stance as being ‘almost passive aggressive’ given she’s ’tilted forwards’, too.
“If someone leans into your personal space, any person in authority with this stance, it’s quite intimidating,” he adds.
And this is echoed even further in Melania’s facial expression, he also says.
Facial expression
Stanton continues: “Her facial expression, it’s passive aggressive. We can see this from the fact the eyes are squinted, eyebrows together and lips are pierced.
“In psychological terms, it’s an anger micro expression.”
And the image being in black and white? Well, Stanton argues it’s to emphasize the shadows and give a ‘sharper image’ which gives ‘clarity and perspective,’ suggesting Melania is ‘going to have more of a voice this time around’.
And Melania’s outfit acts as the cherry on top.
Melania Trump has ‘come to do business’ (Julia Demaree Nikhinson – Pool/Getty Images)
Outfit
Melania is wearing a business suit opposed to any more ‘laid back’ or ‘feminine clothing’.
Stanton evaluates: “A business suit on anyone, means quite literally, I’ve come to do business, I‘m not a pushover.
“The look is quite masculine, this whole photograph is about power and the assertion of power. She’s not going to be in the shadows or in the wings this time.
“This is likely a sign we’ll see her have her own projects and things going on over the next four years which will give her a stronger sense of her own identity.”
While Melania may’ve not liked ‘being in the limelight last time,’ Stanton believes the photograph implies we’ll see ‘a lot more’ of her during Trump’s second presidency.
Although, ‘not in terms of being with Donald more, but we’ll see her create her own projects’.
Stanton resolves that there are ‘four or five different gestures in this picture which clearly say’ Melania is trying to give off the image of ‘power’.Featured Image Credit: Regine Mahaux/The White House
Topics: Melania Trump, US News, Politics
