1/ This nonverbal analysis is (thus far) my second dissection of the Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit.
2/ What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the Helsinki Presser focusing on several key responses of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump - as Trump is answering a question from Jeff Mason (Reuters).
3/ JEFF MASON (beginning at 4:27:16 in above video link): "Thank you. Mr. President, you tweeted this morning that it's U.S. foolishness, stupidity, and the Mueller probe that is responsible for the decline in U.S. relations with Russia..."
4/ "... Do you hold Russia at all accountable for anything in particular? And if so, what would you, what would you consider them - that they are responsible for?"
5/ DONALD TRUMP: "Yes I do. I hold, ah, both countries responsible. I think the that the United States has been foolish. I think we've all been foolish. We shoulda had this dialogue a long time ago, a long time, frankly, before I got to office..."
6/ "... And I think we're all, ah, to blame. I 'ink that the United States now has stepped forward, along with Russia - and we're getting together and we have a chance to do some great things, whether it's nuclear proliferation in terms of stopping, we have to do it..."
7/ "... Ultimately, that's probably - the most important thing that we can be working on.
8/ "... But, ah, I do feel that, ah, we have both made some mistakes. ∆ I think that thee, the probe is a disaster for our country. I think it's kept us apart. It's kept us separated..."
9/ "...There was no collusion - at all Ω . Ah, everybody knows it. Ah, people are being brought out to the fore..."
10/ "... Ah, so far, that I know, virtually, none of it related to the campaign. And they're gonna have to try really hard to find something that did relate to the campaign. That was a clean campaign. I beat Hillary - Clinton easily and, frankly, ah, we beat her ∆ ..."
11/ "... and I'm not even saying from the standpoint, we won that race. And it's a shame there could even be a little bit of a cloud over it. Ah, people know that. People understand it. But the main thing — and we discussed this also — is zero collusion..."
12/ "... It has had a negative impact upon - the relationship of the two largest nuclear powers in the world. We have ninety percent of nuclear power between the two countries. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous what's going on with the probe."
13/ During 4:27:44 - 4:28:46, Vladimir Putin displays a Tongue in Cheek dynamic, just AFTER Donald Trump says, "Yes I do. I hold, ah, both countries responsible. I think the that the United States has been foolish..."
14/ "... I think we've all been foolish. We shoulda ..." and AS Trump says, "had this dialogue a long time".
15/ Putin displays another Tongue-in-Cheek nonverbal as Trump is saying, "long time, frankly" (during 4:28:47 - 49).
16/ Yet another Tongue-in-Cheek display is manifested by the Russian President as Trump says, "But, ah" (4:28:08 - 09).
17/ And Putin displays a fourth Tongue-in-Cheek display is seen as Trump is saying, "I think it's" (during 4:28:19).
18/ In these contexts, a Tongue-in-Cheek display is a strong nonverbal indicator of the thought-emotions of "I Just Won" - or more colloquially, "I gotcha"! There's also a significant emotional tone of smugness projected with the Tongue-in Cheek dynamic.
19/ During 4:28:05 - 4:28:07, just after Donald Trump says, "... whether it's nuclear proliferation in terms of stopping, we have to do it...", Vladimir Putin scratches the region just in front of his left ear.
20/ When displayed by a person who is listening (here, Putin), this specific signal is highly indicative of hearing someone (Trump) say something with which they disagree - or something they believe to be an attempt at deception.
21/ Intriguingly, the number of scratches in front of the ear is virtually always four to six. Vladimir Putin scratches four times.
22/ Just after Donald Trump says, "There was no collusion - at all" (during 4:28:25 and notated above with the Ω symbol), Putin's left eyebrow raises. This is a strong nonverbal signal that Putin does not believe Trump's statement.
23/ In this context - when it's being displayed by the alleged co-conspirator - in real-time, during an active denial - this facial display is an absolute red flag. It's an air raid siren blaring six inches away.
24/ Please watch this expression on the video to fully appreciate the dynamics and context of Putin's facial display.
25/ If we pan-out the camera and look over at Donald Trump, we notice that Trump's hands are retracted posteriorly and withdrawn to the center of his body. They had previously been holding the sides of the lectern (toward the front).
26/ In this segment, he maintains this posture from 4:28:14 through 4:28:46. The subjects about which Trump was speaking during this time include Robert Mueller's investigation, allegations of collusion, his 2016 presidential campaign, and Hillary Clinton.
27/ Although we cannot see his hands directly they are either in a Fig Leaf configuration (also known as Genital Guarding) - or very nearly so.
28/ The fig leaf is a particularly Beta body posture. When we see this dynamic change, it projects weakness and vulnerability to the subjects being discussed.
29/ Moreover, when standing on stage with another person, the one displaying a fig-leaf is signaling his subordination. The American President feels he is Putin's subordinate.
30/ SUMMARY: Analysis of Vladimir Putin in the above-described video segment of The Helsinki Summit, demonstrates that the Russian President's thought-feelings indicate that he strongly believes he has won the game he is playing with Trump.
continued ...
31/ Alarmingly, this evaluation also shows that Putin believes that nuclear proliferation should NOT be curtailed - and/or he believes Trump is lying when Trump is saying this.
continued ...
32/ In addition, and of profound importance, Putin does NOT believe Trump's statement, "There was no collusion - at all".
continued ...
33/ Because the alleged collusion on Trump's part would have to have been coordinated with and conducted by Putin and/or his surrogates, this finding is a nonverbally indicts of both leaders.
continued ...
34/ Moreover, this nonverbal analysis also demonstrates that Donald Trump has significantly low confidence with regard to his 2016 campaign, the results of the Presidential Election, Hillary Clinton & toward the investigation led by United States Special Counsel Robert Mueller...
35/ In addition, Trump himself feels that he is Putin's subordinate.
END
Here is a THREAD to my first analysis of this event:
2/ Donald Trump delivered a campaign speech earlier today in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He repeatedly made the expression show in this accompanying still image. Note his central forehead is contracted and elevated while simultaneously displaying a (feigned) mouth smile.
3/ We all make an expression similar to this one *once-in-a-while* when we're feeling:
• Smug Incredulity
• Arrogance
• Contempt
(although all of these thought-emotions have other facial expressions with which they're associated)
1/ Yesterday, after the closest Senate vote in 137 years, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Ashley Kavanaugh's body language during her husband's swearing-in ceremony is worthy of scrutiny.
2/ Note in the above image, as retired Justice Anthony Kennedy administers the Judicial Oath to Brett Kavanaugh, Ashley Kavanaugh is standing with her left leg crossed in front of her right leg. This nonverbal display indicates a lowered confidence level & a beta emotional tone.
1/ There are many nonverbal signs indicating relative levels of confidence. During last week's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford exhibited contrasting examples of one such signal.
2/ When a person raises their right hand to be sworn-in before testifying, if their fingers and/or thumb are spread apart - it signals low levels of confidence.
1/ The following is my second analysis of a portion of Brett Kavanaugh's testimony during his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on 27 September 2018.
2/ JOHN KENNEDY (beginning at 3:45:39): "I’m — I’m sorry, judge, for what you and your family have been through. And I’m sorry - for what Dr. Ford and her family have been through. It could have been avoided [long pause] Do you believe in God?"
1/ In case you hadn't heard, on Wednesday 27 September 2018, both Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
2/ This hearing could supply a year's worth of nonverbal teaching examples and it would close to impossible to analyze the entire event in one session. Thus, what follows is the first of several analyses of this historic exchange.