unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Film and TV
    • Netflix
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Body language expert breaks down what Trump's gestures mean including very specific signal

Home> News> US News

Updated 11:20 14 Mar 2026 GMTPublished 11:19 14 Mar 2026 GMT

Body language expert breaks down what Trump's gestures mean including very specific signal

Trump is known for being expressive while delivering speeches

Lucy Devine

Lucy Devine

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News

Lucy Devine
Lucy Devine

Advert

Advert

Advert

A body language expert has spoken about President Donald Trump's hand gestures, revealing some of the clues about what they mean.

Trump is known for being expressive while delivering speeches, often using an array of different hand gestures to emphasize the message he is trying to portray.

One body language expert, Andy Harrington, has broken down some of Trump's most infamous gestures, including one very specific hand signal.

Speaking to The Independent, Andy explained that there's one gesture Trump uses frequently to deliver precision during his speeches.

Advert

"He's got certain gestures that he uses," explained Andy.

"There's one very specific one that he uses all the time, like finish the job."

Andy demonstrated Trump's 'O-shaped gesture' which is where the thumb and the index finger meet.

Andy spoke about Trump's 'soft warrior' gesture (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Andy spoke about Trump's 'soft warrior' gesture (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

"He uses that a number of times, which is one he uses to accentuate. This one is essentially called the soft warrior," Andy continued.

"It's where it's a warrior-like gesture. What he really wants to do is to do this, which is the sword pointed up like a finger pointed up like a sword.

"But, a lot of politicians would avoid that because it's a bit too overly authoritative.

"So this little gesture provides precision, but at the same time punches out his message which is finish the job.

"All politicians have had some sort of media training there's no doubt, however, Trump bucks the trend with everything he does.

"He tends to speak without thinking it through because I think he's just at that stage where he kind of believes he's invincible... there's very little body language that he's hiding."

Trump uses an array of different hand gestures (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump uses an array of different hand gestures (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Andy also spoke about the consistency of Trump's body language, explaining that he uses gestures that are 'classic authoritarian'.

"He's got the choppy hand, he often does this one when explaining, which means he's expanding an idea," said Andy, referring to Trump separating both hands before bringing them back together.

"He only puts his arms out whenever he knows the audience, he knows they're gonna' respond well to him and he's opening himself up."

Andy also explained that there's one gesture that could indicate Trump is feeling self-conscious in the moment, adding: "Gripping both wrists which is like classic cuffing, holding the wrists is like holding yourself back. You can't express through the hands, it's more 'keep it in' kind of gesture, suggesting he felt slightly self conscious."

Choose your content:

16 mins ago
an hour ago
3 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella
    16 mins ago

    Madonna's missing Coachella outfit ‘might have fallen off a golf cart’

    Police have insisted "There is no evidence to suggest the bags were intentionally stolen.”

    Celebrity
  • Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Storage Wars' René Nezhoda pays tribute to co-star Darrell Sheets and claims he was bullied prior to death

    Sheets' former co-star has alleged that Darrell was being brutally cyber-bullied in the run up to his tragic death

    Celebrity
  • Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Official cause of death confirmed for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, teen at heart of D4vd murder case

    The singer whose real name is David Anthony Burke is facing a first-degree murder charge and could face death penalty if convicted

    News
  • Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    Storage Wars star Darrell Sheets has died aged 67

    The reality TV star's death was announced by Arizona police officers after being called to his home address

    Celebrity
  • Body language expert breaks down Trump’s ‘subtle signal’ during ‘yank' handshake with Putin
  • Body language expert breaks down Trump's 'awkward' mic and medal moment at FIFA World Cup draw
  • Body language expert breaks down Liberian president's reaction to Trump's 'idiotic' comment about his English
  • Body language expert breaks down how Donald Trump 'asserted his power' during NATO summit