Trump Zelensky – Body Language Analysis
I am sure you have come across the recent spat that erupted in the Oval House involving the Trump-Zelensky face off. Did you also observe their body language? What all could you see? Let’s analyse together!
CONTEXT
On February 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at the White House to discuss critical issues, including a framework agreement on rare earth minerals and security guarantees for Ukraine. The meeting, however, became notably contentious, with both leaders engaging in a heated exchange that culminated in the suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. This incident not only strained diplomatic relations but also sent shockwaves through international markets and defense sectors, prompting European nations to reassess their defense strategies and financial commitments.
THE BAD START
You can see some amount of discomfort, especially of Zelensky in the image below
What specifically do you observe? The distance between the two leaders is hard to miss. While Trump has his hand behind Zelensky in an attempt to show closeness, the personal space between the two and the expression of dislike on Zelensky’s face tells you that there is no comradery visible here.
THE ACCUSATIONS
Throughout this incident, Trump and his aide are constantly using their index finger while speaking, not to mention the constant interrupting. Both of these are signals of one trying to dominate the conversation or situation.
Zelensky putting hand on heart is to suggest what he is saying is genuine but when one of them is so dominating, this body language becomes too soft to compete against the “alpha signal”
MEANING BUSINESS
As you can see in the image below, both Donald Trump and James Vance both are showing the same gesture, indicating synchrony in their point of view
This particular hand gesture i.e. palms down is a signal that suggests one is highly sure of what they are saying. Used frequently by the boss in the room or the one confirming that their opinion is the final one, the two are clearly indicating their dominance together. And this way they succeed in cornering Zelensky.
THE PUSH AND THE SHOVE
What I personally found the most amusing was the way in which Trump keeps intruding into Zelensky’s personal space by first giving him a gentle prod with his right hand as below.
As the discussion progresses, you can see this prod turning into a poke and finally into a shove. All indications that Trump would simply not allow Zelensky to dominate. If you observe closely, like any astute body language observer should, you can see that Trump does this action whenever Zelensky is trying to take up attention of the media. Trump is very clear to, at no point, allow Zelensky to look even the slightest bit settled down or in command.
TOTAL ASYNCHRONY
If you have heard about the concept of “mirroring” in body language, you would know that when two people look, think or feel alike, you can see a bit of similarity in their actions. Now observe the image below. What do you see?
From the beginning of the meeting till the end, you see not a single moment in which the two leaders have any bit of similarity in their body language. If one is trying to open up, the other one shuts down. If one tries to relax a bit, the other one amplifies the tension they are creating and so on.This high level of asynchrony is visible only when two people do not see eye to eye at all.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
Ok, now that you have been observing these images with me, it’s time for a quick quiz! For a moment, forget the two personalities, forget the context that you already have about the situation. Now if you observed the image below, who looks more powerful? Is it still the same person? Why? Pause and look again.
In case you are wondering what the answer is to the question in the image, the trick is to observe the nuances. While Zelensky has open palms they are placed in between his lower frame making the feet look like they are placed closer than they are. His shoulders (although wide framed) are hunching inwards and the expression on his face is one of concern (ridges between theeyebrows). Thus he appears less powerful.
In Trumps case, the hands are placed over the thighs in a manner that they are clearly visible making his frame appear wider (forget the normal size of the frame, you need to focus on how much wider it appears compared to his normal frame and that of his counterpart). Pair that with the tension on his face visible in multiple areas, mainly the nose and the withdrawn lips, makes
him appear displeased and slightly threatening. In his case, the open palms do not make him appear submissive.
CONCLUSION
How can this analysis, especially of the last quiz be useful to you? When I ask participants in our engagements to observe well known personalities objectively, it is difficult. Very difficult. Most of us come with an "expectation" of what is happening in photos. Or simply scan in a glance. If you are doing something similar, you could be missing out on important information. Especially when the stakes are high.
HOW WE CAN HELP
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