Featured Image Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Russia, US News, Politics
Britt Jones
Topics: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Russia, US News, Politics
President Donald Trump’s handshake with President Vladimir Putin has been broken down by a body language expert after viewers called it a 'power play'.
The two leaders met in Alaska to hash out the conflict in Eastern Europe, which the 79-year-old POTUS has attempted to patch up since he took office in January this year.
However, nothing appeared to work, not threats of sanctions, tariffs or a minerals deal.
Instead, the war in Ukraine continues to rage on.
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Speaking to reporters on Air Force One ahead of the meeting, Trump was asked what consequences Russia would face if Putin wasn’t willing to talk about ending the war in Ukraine.
"Economically severe. It will be very severe," he replied. "I’m not doing this for my health, okay, I don’t need it. I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives.
"Yeah, very severe.”
While he didn’t comment on what punishments would be dished out to Russia, Trump added: "I don’t have to say. There will be very severe consequences."
But as the pair met in Anchorage, viewers watched as Putin walked towards him and were shocked when the US president seemed to pull his hand during the shake.
People online were shocked, with many claiming that this was Trump’s 'power play' before the meeting began.
However, a body language expert has their own thoughts on just what was going on there.
Speaking to Newsweek, Patty Ann Wood shared that the interaction was a mix of ‘deference, control and familiarity’.
Before the handshake, she explained that Trump is ‘smiling - a sign he's comfortable and looking forward to the event’.
The expert added: "It's his natural smile, small and slightly downturned at the corners. His shoulders are back more than usual; he might be wearing a form-fitting undergarment because his posture is unusually erect. This all suggests confidence."
But when the 72-year-old Russian leader approached, Trump began to applaud and stepped forward to meet him on the red carpet.
For Wood, this was a sign of ‘respect’.
While many thought the handshake was somewhat nefarious, Wood said he broke his usual tradition during it, telling the outlet: "Trump typically likes to have his hand on top, but here it appears he presented his palm up - a weaker, more subordinate position - indicating he sees Putin as more powerful."
She went on to say that he did, however, go on to do his classic move, which was to keep ‘the handshake tight to his mid-body to pull the other person in, a display of power’.
So, while Trump may find Putin the more powerful force, he was apparently still trying to maintain his own show of power.
During the shaking, both met made eye contact and smiled, moving their heads close to one another which Wood says suggests ‘warmth’ towards one another.
Then Trump brought his hand across to pat Putin’s arm, forming a ‘double handshake’, which is a ‘subtle’ sign of dominance, she claimed.
Wood noted: "I could strike you if I wanted to. Putin responds in kind."
As the pair began to walk, that’s when Trump reverted back to his favorite handshake position, putting his hand on top which was a ‘handshake chess game’.
All in all, the expert noted that Putin looked confident and Trump made a ‘gesture of intimacy’ by leaning in to whisper in his ear.
Wood said the meeting ‘looked like two old friends seeing each other after a long time’.