Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani’s first public meeting has body language experts weighing in on their secret power play.
Donald Trump’s actions caught the attention of experts. PDO
President of the United States Donald Trump79, met with the new mayor of New York on Friday by Zohran Mamdani34, for the first time in public at the White House. Both have publicly criticized each other.
Contrary to what the local media and some people might have assumed, Trump and Mamdan were smiling and laughing with each other during the meeting. The Huffington Post – news website, however, according to the body language experts interviewed, there was a power game going on between the two.
Expert Patti Wood drew attention to the fact that Trump was sitting at his desk, while Mamdan was standing next to him. According to Wood, studies of office politics show that bosses often communicate their dominance by sitting while a subordinate stands in front of their desk.
– If Mamdani had stood in front of the table, he would have looked weaker. Standing next to Trump, he seemed taller, stronger and more energetic, Wood says.
Donald Trump sat next to Zohra Mamdani during the meeting. Jonathan Ernst
Also an expert Traci Brown noted Mamdan standing. Brown points out that while standing, Mamdani had his arms crossed in front of his stomach, i.e. he was in the so-called fig leaf position.
– This shows hedging and possibly subordination, Brown estimates.
Expert Karen Donaldson however, notes that Mamdani had a relaxed demeanor, indicating that he was not extremely nervous.
So what about Trump’s stance? Wood says that Trump was in the so-called campfire position, meaning he had his arms crossed so that his left hand covered his right. According to Wood, this is a reassuring gesture.
According to the experts, it was interesting that Trump playfully patted Mamdani with his hand several times. Experts believe that the act was a clear power play by Trump.
Wood also noticed that Trump often glanced at Mamdan and smiled broadly and playfully.
– It’s a smile that I haven’t seen on Trump very often, because it’s a spontaneous and wavy smile that shows genuine playfulness and a desire to genuinely interact with Mamdani, Wood analyzed.
Donald Trump sat in the so-called campfire pose. PDO
Wood calls Trump’s playful actions a “dominance dance.” The expert explains that in this way Trump tried to get Mamdani’s attention and demonstrate his paternal authority. However, Wood estimates that Mamdani did not jump into Trump’s dance of dominance.
Trump also shrugged his shoulders while praising Mamdani, which Wood says conveys uncertainty, even if the words are confident.
Trump also playfully poked Mamdani when a reporter asked if the mayor thought the president was a fascist. According to Brown, with the playful nudge, Trump showed that he was in power.
Iltalehti followed live the meeting between Mamdani and Trump on Friday. The meeting between Trump and Mamdani ended in good spirits, although Trump has previously criticized the newly elected mayor of New York in harsh words.
– I believe that he has the opportunity to do a good job. We are going to help him.
– We agree on more issues than I could have expected, Trump said.
Trump threatened to send the National Guard to New York if “communist crazy” Mamdani is elected mayor. Trump’s candidate lost in clear numbers. Since then, Trump has softened his view of Mamdani.