A body language expert has given insight into Donald Trump's hidden response when he was questioned about the recent rumors that he had died.
The 79-year-old President addressed the speculation during a nearly 50-minute press event, dismissing the rumors while also offering some pointed commentary about the media's treatment of his health compared to former President Joe Biden's.
Trump Jokes About the "Crazy" Death Rumors
The death rumors gained traction after Trump had no public events scheduled for a couple of days, which led to speculation about his well-being.
Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked him about the chatter, prompting Trump to respond with a casual “I have heard, it’s sort of crazy… It’s so fake.” He continued: “I was very active this Labor Day,” laughing off the claim, per the Telegraph.
The president also took the opportunity to comment on the media’s tendency to scrutinize his health while giving President Biden a pass.
“I didn’t do any [public events] for two days, and they said there must be something wrong with him. Biden would not do them for months… and nobody ever said there was anything wrong with him,” Trump said.
The speculation around Trump’s health started on Friday with the hashtag #whereistrump trending across social media.
While paparazzi had photographed the president traveling to and from his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, this only fueled the rumors.
Despite sightings of Trump golfing with his granddaughter and former NFL coach Jon Gruden over the weekend, online skeptics persisted, claiming that photos of Trump had been doctored or were outdated.
Body Language Expert Analyzes Trump's Reaction to Death Rumors
While Trump joked about the rumors, body language expert Inbaal Honigman, speaking on behalf of Covers.com in an interview with LadBible, noticed some subtle cues that could provide deeper insight into how the president was feeling about the speculation.
Honigman observed that Trump’s hand movements during his second term in office have become more restrained compared to his first term, when he was known for using “wide, broad hand moves.”
This change in gesture was described as a shift towards a more controlled and less expressive style of communication.
Honigman pointed out that Trump seemed more reserved with his hand movements, often keeping his hands under the podium or in his lap.
She suggested that someone might have advised Trump to reduce his excessive gestures, creating a more polished and less animated appearance.
However, during the press conference, Honigman noted that Trump did not appear to be hiding his hands but instead adjusted his tie and pointed at journalists, showing a bit more openness than in past appearances.
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The "Presidential" Facial Expression: Trump Responds to the Rumors
When the topic of the death rumors came up, Trump kept a serious demeanor, maintaining a “presidential” facial expression.
According to Honigman, this involved an “unsmiling face trying to appear serious,” with his head slightly tilted to the side to convey that he was listening carefully.
Trump maintained direct eye contact with the journalists, which was interpreted as an effort to appear sincere and unafraid of addressing the rumors.
However, Honigman also noticed a subtle, “almost imperceptible” shift in Trump’s behavior when he initially heard the question.
As he responded to the death rumors, he briefly broke eye contact with the journalist and glanced sideways.
This, according to the body language expert, was a tiny protective gesture that signaled vulnerability. “Eye contact can make someone feel vulnerable, and looking to the side shows that his mind is active,” Honigman explained.