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Body language expert examines Trump's reaction to midterm defeat and spots one detail
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An expert analyzed Donald Trump's reaction and body language after a historic Republican loss in the midterm elections.
The President has claimed that the historic Republican loss, which saw states like Texas, South Carolina, and Kansas turn blue for the first time in decades, was because his name wasn't on the ballot.
In a landslide victory for the Democrats, the political party won the Senate and the House, meaning that there is now a ‘lame duck’ government.
As the Democrats will hold the majority of seats in Congress, the party will have more power to influence laws, stop Trump's plans, and have a bigger say in the US' political direction until at least 2028.
While Trump has responded to JD Vance's claims that they lost the midterms due to the Iran war, a body language expert has now delved into the President's body language during Wednesday's (November 4) press conference.
Trump showed signs of exhaustion
While speaking at the construction site of the controversial White House ballroom, the President chose to avoid the looming fact that Democrats will take over Congress next year.
He instead spoke about the project in the background, which has reportedly cost hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.
But while he seemed unbothered, body language expert Judi James claimed that Trump was more irritated with the midterm results than he let on.
Claiming that he was showing signs of severe exhaustion, she told the Mirror that the President appeared 'pale-faced and with even paler lips that made him look like the voting results had made the blood drain from his body,' on Wednesday afternoon.
James further explained: “Trump began this appearance in something of his signature boastful, hyperbolic style, but that was because he was appearing in guise of the 'builder in chief,' singing about his achievements not as a politician but as an architect of all the construction he has commissioned.”
She pointed out: “Even as he kept on relatively safe ground, though it was possible to see the way his eyes became virtual slits of exhaustion as micro-winces of inner pain, verbal fillers, a hoarse voice and a tongue-poke of rejection suggested he was deflated.”
Trump's physical indicators were easy to miss
The expert explained: “There was one 'tell' of defiance as he squared, lifted and jutted his jaw but it looked like a gesture of bravado from a wounded-looking animal.”
She observed that Trump struggled to hide his frustration when he started to take questions from reporters, adding: “Once he got to questions about the results his tone became quieter and he appeared weary and resigned.
“His arms gently flapped in a gesture of puzzlement, and he kept grabbing at the edges of his jacket to pull at it in sudden yanking movements,” James added.
While the President eventually told the press that he will likely 'get along' with the Democrats, he mentioned that he still has veto power.
This detail stood out to James, who said: “His 'good people' reference suggested no apparent desire to throw out any blame but when he said he would 'get along with the democrats' his voice sounded even more resigned and weary and he adopted the 'dying fall' where the vocal tone dips or drops at the end of a statement.”
Trump also acknowledged the effects of the Iran war on the midterms, stating: “I knew the war was going to impact it, but whether it impacted it or not, Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
He was then asked about his Vice President's detailed X post, which claimed that the election loss was due to the war.
“Well, I know how he feels about it. I think it was fine. I thought it was good,” Trump responded.
He added: “We stopped them from having a nuclear weapon, and they will never have a nuclear weapon.”