Thread by @DrGJackBrown

1/ THREAD: For the second time this week, Donald Trump used a church as a photo op. This image released this morning shows the President and First Lady at Saint John Paul II Shrine. What follows is a partial #BodyLanguage

#BodyLanguageExpert #EmotionalIntelligence

2/ Note the expression on Trump's face. His primary emotion is that of anger. Note his:

• Lowered forehead and eyebrows
• Eyebrows pulled together
• Partially closed eyelids
• Tense lower eyelids
• Partially flared nostrils
• Tense midface
• Thinned upper lip

but also...

3/ His secondary emotion is that of petulance. Trump is pouting. Note his:

• Jaw partially protruding
• Jaw partially tensed
• Lower lip protruding

4/ Melania's midface shows an amalgam of:

• Mild disgust
• Impatience

5/ Note Melania's hands. Her right thumb is considerably contracted (flexed), while the nail of her left index finger is pressing against the pad of her left thumb (Intriguingly, a behavior also common w/ Mike Pence when he poses with Trump). This demonstrates Melania's anxiety.

6/ Now, notice the position of the Crucifix. It is the one object in this image that is considerably off-center. Crucially, while the Crucifix is positioned in front of Melania, no part of it is superimposed on Trump.

7/ Moreover, the Crucifix is turned toward the camera, rather than toward the parishioners. This was performed deliberately — either because Trump was emotionally uncomfortable looking at the likeness of a Christ — or so that the Crucifix could be used as a prop.

8/ Summary: Donald Trump's nonverbal display in this image is that of a Sulking, Petulant Child who took considerable care to NOT be 'touching'/overlapping with a likeness of a dying/self-sacrificing Jesus Christ.

END
#BodyLanguageExpert #BodyLanguage #EmotionalIntelligence