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Donald Trump ‘seemed at a slight loss’ when President Zelensky left an awkward but ‘deliberate’ gap between the two as they posed for photos at the entrance of the White House
Donald Trump greets President Zelenskyy at the White House
Donald Trump displayed a rare “inner anxiety” when Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky pulled up to the White House to greet him, a body language expert claims.
The otherwise confident leader “seemed at a slight loss” when Zelensky left an awkward but “deliberate” gap between the two as they posed for photos. The Ukrainian president will today speak with Trump in a high-stakes meeting as he seeks to regain US backing against Russia’s invasion.
The pair will sign a preliminary agreement on sharing Ukraine’s mineral resources – which Trump says will allow America to recoup aid provided to Kyiv while supporting Ukraine’s economy. He greeted Zelensky with a handshake and looked toward journalists, not responding to any of the questions put towards them.
Body language expert Judi James said Trump’s body language signalled some inner anxiety as he braced himself for the discussions. She told the Mirror: “Standing outside the White House entrance waiting to greet Zelensky, Trump’s body language signals hinted at (unusually) some inner anxiety.
“A large sigh suggested he might have been bracing himself. His lower jaw jutted several times, displaying his lower teeth in a gesture that would normally suggest a preparation for a fight or a tough encounter. Trump threw a thumbs up to the cameras as though letting them know he was ok just before Zelensky’s car arrived.
“The initial shake between the two men was similar to Starmer’s, with a pat on Zelensky’s arm from Trump as the hands clasped and juddered up and down a brisk ten or so times. Trump then turned to call something to the press, pushing a ‘presenting’ hand gesture out to Zelensky.
“He then pointed at the Ukranian leader but again talked across to the press. As the two men posed for the cameras there seemed to be a deliberate bid for separation from Zelensky, who stood to attention but who also moved to the side to pose with a spatial gap from the US president.
“Trump offered a raised fist to the cameras but seemed at a slight loss in terms of posing together with Zelensky. The men’s partial smiles appeared friendly, but Zelensky’s approach looked formal and serious. As Trump called out his thanks to the press, he placed a hand on Zelensky’s back and Zelensky’s walk into the building looked no-nonsense as though he was keen to get down to business.”
Trump and Zelensky are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office this afternoon, followed by a lunch meeting and a news conference. It is Zelensky’s fifth visit to the US before he heads to the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, to meet with members of the Ukrainian community.
It comes after Trump falsely accused Zelensky of being a dictator in a Truth Social rant, and then later denied ever using the term to describe him. “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that”, the US president told reporters on Thursday during a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, adding: “We have a lot of respect, I have a lot of respect for him.”