Former President Joe Biden displayed a wide ‘spectrum of emotions’ as President Donald Trump laid into his leadership and wider administration, picking up on the fury behind his ‘faint, sickly smile’, an expert said
Elon Musk excited about possible Mars mission after Trump inauguration
As one US President leaves the Oval Office, another enters – and President Donald Trump did not hold back with his scathing assessment of his predecessor, President Joe Biden.
While a gracious handover of power has long been part of the American presidential tradition, President Trump, 78, is known for his blunt and outspoken manner, which he wielded in his ‘dragon’s breath’ speech. And, it was clear this verbal onslaught took its toll on President Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who both appeared visibly strained as President Trump raged on.
Now body language expert Judi James has decoded exactly what 82-year-old President Biden was thinking as he watched President Trump tear into his administration, picking up on a wide “spectrum of emotions” from the outgoing leader.
Speaking exclusively to Paddy Power Games, Judi remarked: “Trump’s words were strong and, at times, excoriating. For Biden and Harris, seated to his left, they must have felt like dragon’s breath as he attacked their administration on every front. They were blamed for everything – from the mishandling of emergencies like the LA fires to being part of what he called a ‘radical, corrupt establishment’.”
Judi then went on to note that Trump “delivered his scathing remarks in a tone softer than usual”, giving “calm, firm facial expressions” that were markedly different from the “overt emotional displays” he’s become known for. She continued: “Trump’s subdued yet impactful delivery allowed his audience to carry the emotional weight of the moment. Biden and Harris, visibly strained under the rhetorical onslaught, reacted in contrasting ways. Harris’s expression could only be described as “weaned on a pickle.” She sat rigidly, silent throughout, rising only to applaud when the hostages were mentioned.
“Biden, by contrast, displayed a spectrum of emotions. Initially, he wilted – sinking into his seat, his fingers pressed against his mouth, and his gaze cast downward in a way that sadly suggested shame. He winced, glanced at his watch as if eager to be elsewhere, and eventually attempted a faint, sickly smile that looked more like an attempt to rally himself than anything else. At one point, he tried to mask a grin behind his hand. As the speech progressed, Biden’s frustration began to surface. His fingers meshed in a tight clasp, his white knuckles betraying anger.”
In his speech, Trump declared that, “America’s decline is over”, stating: “My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed, their freedom.”
Promising voters a new “Golden Age”, POTUS promised: “From this moment on, America’s decline is over. Our liberties and our nation’s glorious destiny will no longer be denied, and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America’s government.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
