Thread by @DrGJackBrown

THREAD: Body Language Analysis No. 4374: Nancy Pelosi's Clap-Back to Donald Trump during the 2019 SOTU • • #Nonverbal #EmotionalIntelligence #BodyLanguage #BodyLanguageExpert #Clapback #DonaldTrump #NancyPelosi #SOTU #StateOfTheUnion

1/ On Tuesday, 5 February 2019, President Trump gave his second State of The Union Address.

2/ As you may have heard, the SOTU was delayed this year by Nancy Pelosi due to Donald Trump's shutdown of a large percentage of the U.S. federal government. And via her body language, Nancy Pelosi very much continued to steal the show.

3/ What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of a brief but profoundly impactful portion of Pelosi's nonverbal exchange with the President during the 2019 SOTU.

4/ DONALD TRUMP (continuing from 0:09 in the above video): "But we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution - and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good."

5/ Throughout much of the SOTU (this image from 0:13), Nancy Pelosi repeatedly looked at her copy of the President's address. In so doing, she was showing to the world her deliberate disrespect toward Trump.

6/ Pelosi's lack of eye contact and diminished attention telegraphed her refusal to subordinate herself - and by extension, her refusal to subordinate the American people - to Donald Trump.

7/ During 0:26, as he finishes his sentence and the audience begins to applause, Nancy Pelosi, just prior to standing up, displays a Tight Tongue Jut, indicating:

• Repulsion
• Disgust
• Disdain

8/ Nancy Pelosi's clap is distinctive & important for several reasons (0:28). Note how her hands & fingers are flattened - fully extended (& even mildly hyper-extended - e.g., her fingers bending a bit outward at the tips). The long axis of her hands are also close to parallel.

9/ Typical enthusiastic and sincere clapping involves hands which meet each other at more of angle (e.g., as are Pence's hands in this same moment) - as well as with hands and fingers that are cupped. Such configurations engender significantly louder noise whilst clapping.

10/ Pelosi's arms are also extended and elevated - and her shoulders are hunched as well. This cluster dynamic prevents the generation of power during clapping (ergo, it's quieter and projects less enthusiasm).

11/ Moreover, the Speaker's torso is leaning away from Trump - thus distancing herself from a person whom she does not like.

12/ Donald Trump Turns - and for two seconds (0:29 - 0:30), Nancy Pelosi locks eyes with the President.

13/ This image captures the full crescendo of the moment (0:30):

• The Speaker's torso remains retracted, leaning away from the President
• Her hands are still extended, in a low-enthusiasm, insincere, clapping-pointing dynamic

14/
• Pelosi's eyebrows and forehead are raised (signifying doubt and condescending emotional tones)
• Nancy's head and chin are tilted down and her head is rotated away from Donald

15/ (Thus, not looking directly at him - notice how her eyes are turned modestly to her right while her head rotated to her left. We don't full-body-point/look directly at people who we don't like, don't believe, and/or don't trust.)

16/ • Pelosi's lips are pouting - indicating a sarcastic, "Donny's been a good little boy - let's all clap for him" message.

17/ Less than a second later (still during 0:30), Donald Trump says something to Nancy Pelosi as she looks down and away from the President.

18/ During 0:31, Donald Trump is rotating away - back toward his audience. As he does so, Nancy Pelosi looks at him again. The Speaker of the House has a Disgust-Pseudo Smile expression, while the President has a Disgust-Defiance facial amalgam.

19/ Trump then turns briefly back toward Pelosi (0:34), speaks briefly once again - as we see another Tight Tongue Jut displayed by the Speaker.

20/ From a body language perspective, it's surprising and ironic that both the Vice President and the Speaker of The House are traditionally placed above and behind the President during the State of the Union Address.

21/ Both of these positions temporarily give the two subordinate officers greater alpha status. Many alpha males, in particular, have great difficulty with others standing behind them. It intimidates them and makes them feel vulnerable.

22/ Donald Trump has a history of misogyny - and here, with his current chief political rival and the first woman who has ever enforced significant power over him - he finds himself out of his element.

23/ SUMMARY: Donald Trump did not read this moment for what it was - a very public, sarcastic, condescending, and patronizing dissing by Nancy Pelosi.

continued ...

24/ After preventing President Trump from delivering his second SOTU address in January - the Speaker of the House threw some major shade in February.

continued ...

25/ Without speaking even speaking a single word - and armed with her wits and nonverbal skills, Nancy Pelosi's classic Clap-back exacted a body language coup d'état upon Donald Trump.

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