Donald Trump and Theresa May shared 'AWKWARD' greeting, says body language expert
DONALD TRUMP and Theresa May were pictured this afternoon meeting at Chequers. Both trying to brush of comments released earlier today by Trump, the two had an awkward encounter, says body language analyst Judi James.
Theresa May and Donald Trump shake hands before Chequers talk
Donald Trump, 72, and Theresa May, 61, were pictured together this afternoon entering Theresa May’s county residence Chequers.
As they stood outside the sprawling old manor house, the two leaders were asked about the President’s interview in The Sun.
In the interview Trump revealed he thought Boris Johnson should be prime minister, and accused London Mayor Sadiq khan of doing a “bad job” on terrorism.
Theresa May told reminded reporters of the pair's “special relationship”, while Donald appeared to try and brush the comments off.
Attempting to put aside the interview for the time being, the pair's exchange was rather “awkward”, according to body language expert Judi James.
Donald Trump UK visit: Trump and Theresa May have ‘awkward’ greeting
Trump and May body language decoded
Picture one.
The two leaders stand outside the front door of Chequers, with both of them appearing to direct the other one to enter the building first.
Speaking exclusively to the Express.co.uk, Judi revealed: “This whole greeting ritual had an air of awkwardness about it with Trump’s depth-bomb interview dashing any chance of warm and easy-going choreography.
“Instead we got some half-hearted power-play like this, when both May and Trump try to adopt the more dominant role of host with both gesturing the other into May's home.
Picture two
Picture two shows the powerful pair shaking hands, with Theresa beaming at the President.
Judie said: “May instigated the shake while Trump was still mounting the steps meaning the distant shake left him looking in a more submissive position.
“His actual shake looks firm though. His knuckles have whitened and her hand looks squeezed.”
Picture three
In the third picture, we see Trump looking towards the cameras while Theresa looks towards him, trying to regain eye contact.
“Trump re-booted his power with this wide leg splay and he now scopes the shake out to the cameras while May uses eye contact to try to keep it personal,” added Judi.
Picture four
Picture four shows the two leaders standing tall on the steps of Chequers, exchanging conversation.
Judi revealed: “This 'to attention' pose illustrates the lack of warmth and rapport here with this quasi-military stance creating bland rather than warm levels of rapport.”
Picture five
In the final image, Trump and May walk inside Chequers to begin their talks. Theresa leads the way with Donald’s arm placed gently behind her back, leading her in.
“After their tussle to lead inside Chequers Trump lands the last power-pat here that May was presumably hoping to land herself,” Judi concluded.
The power play is not dissimilar to the one seen yesterday by Theresa and Donald as they attended the NATO Summit in Brussels.
Trump, posed for pictures with the UK Prime Minister, with the pair both looking formal in the snaps.
While it all looked cordial from the outside, the unspoken body language was decoded by Judi James.