Body language expert breaks down Trump's 'awkward' mic and medal moment at FIFA World Cup draw
A body language expert has broken down Donald Trump's 'awkward' moment during an exchange with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
This took place at the FIFA World Cup Draw on Friday (December 5), in which the POTUS was awarded the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize during the event, a moment that was broadcast around the world from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Trump was seen smiling at the Peace Prize statue before Infantino explained what it meant to the gathered audience.
He said the award recipient had 'taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace' and 'united people across the world'.
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Turning to Trump, the FIFA President said: "This is your peace prize. There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go."
Trump was seen holding up the medal in an awkward fashion, seemingly not knowing what to make of it, as Infantino didn't place it around his neck for him.
A microphone caught Trump saying 'Right now', as he put the mic down to put his medal on.
"Ok, let me hold -ah, fantastic," Infantino says as Trump puts it on.
Body language expert Judi James has since told The Mirror US about what she believes Trump's body language revealed.
"Trump's non-verbal purrs of pleasure would have reached a peak as his gaze was directed from the World Cup to a medal that was being delivered," she speculated.
"The honor clearly suited him, although the method of delivery might have failed to reach his expectations.
"Instead of the medal being 'awarded' by being hung around his neck in an honorable and historic ritual, as the World Cup football medals are bestowed by a dignitary after a match, there was an awkward moment here for Trump."
"Trump was directed to the medal, and his comedic response of lifting it himself with a playful grin to the audience hints at a small drop of sarcasm for what might have been a solemn Presidential moment," James added.
"He struggled with the medal and the mic, having to put the mic down onto the table in order to hang the medal around his own neck."
Despite this, James pointed out how Trump's 'bullfrog smile' to the audience 'signalled strong feelings of pride and pleasure at having at last being awarded some form of peace prize'.
"This is truly one of the great honours of my life," Trump said of the moment.
He returned the praise to Infantino, saying: "Gianni has done an incredible job. It is a nice tribute to you and the game of football, or as we call it soccer.
"It is beyond the numbers we thought were possible.
"The world is a safer place now. The USA was not doing well a year ago; now we are the hottest country in the world right now."
Last month, Trump shared a new plan for foreigners traveling to the US for the World Cup, called the 'FIFA Pass'. It will provide expedited visa appointments for those who have bought World Cup tickets through FIFA.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, World News, Politics
Jen Thomas