When Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin stepped onto the red carpet at Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Alaska, the world watched closely for signs of how their long-anticipated summit on Ukraine would unfold.
While the leaders greeted one another with what appeared to be genuine smiles, the hours that followed suggested a far more complex picture. Body language experts believe the subtle physical cues between the two men revealed not only tension but also a struggle for dominance that carried through every handshake, gesture, and expression.
From their very first handshake, the interaction was rich in symbolism. Putin, the first to extend his hand, projected enthusiasm and commitment to the moment.
Yet according to Sky News, psychologist and body language expert Dr. Peter Collett believes the handshake was layered with meaning. He noted no fewer than five “hand pats” exchanged between the two leaders.
Putin’s initial pat was tentative, whereas Trump’s were deliberate, acting as reminders of status and attempts to show he was the one in charge.
At one point, Trump allowed Putin to place his hand on top, a gesture that might suggest submission, but which Collett argued actually allowed Trump to flex his arm and pull his counterpart closer, another display of power.
Trump also ensured he delivered the last pat, a detail Collett said was characteristic of high-dominance personalities, especially politicians. They aim to have the “last touch” in an interaction, a subtle but telling assertion of control.
Once seated before cameras, however, the balance appeared to shift. Putin adopted a broad posture, legs spread wide, a stance often associated with male dominance.
Trump, by comparison, appeared more constrained. Collett pointed out that despite his smaller stature, Putin sat upright and confident, while Trump slouched inward, his posture betraying unease.
The contrast continued during their joint news conference. Putin’s upright stance conveyed authority, while Trump appeared crumpled, weighed down, Collett suggested, by the frustration of leaving the meeting without a concrete deal.
Though the summit was serious, both leaders managed genuine smiles early on, their expressions engaging the muscles around the eyes that signal authentic pleasure. But as the press event wore on, Trump’s smile hardened into what Collett called a “flashbulb smile,” an expression that lacked warmth and revealed growing discontent.
Further clues could be seen in Trump’s attempts to guide Putin physically through their movements at the base, placing his hand behind Putin’s back.
Though it might appear polite, Collett argued this was another dominance display, the act of one man directing another through space.
Ultimately, Trump’s frustration became most evident in his facial expressions. His pursed lips signaled restraint, while what Collett described as an “oxbow mouth” and tensed chin betrayed vulnerability.
In Collett’s view, the U.S. president had entered the summit full of expectation but left without meaningful concessions, and his body language told that story more clearly than his words ever could.