Trump Tried to Display Friendly Dominance Through Body Language at the Summit, Analyst Says
Trump sought to project friendly dominance with his body language at the summit with Putin in Alaska, according to a communication analysis.
Posted on 18/08/2025 at 19:47
- Trump showed friendly dominance at summit with Putin
- Trump’s body language during meeting with Putin
- Trump sought nonverbal control in Alaska
The handshake as the opening signal
During the historic Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the body language of both leaders became a point of analysis.
According to Chris Ulrich, a behavior and nonverbal communication expert consulted by CNN, the initial handshake was key to setting the tone of the meeting.
As reported by CNN.
Trump showed friendly dominance at summit with Putin
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Ulrich explained that the handshake, which lasted about ten seconds, represented “a moment of opportunity for them to connect.”
Both leaders looked each other in the eye and smiled, reflecting an attempt to project parity and closeness.
However, Trump used the moment to exert control with his body language: first showing deference, then pulling Putin’s hand toward himself.
A gesture that, according to the expert, was meant to reaffirm his dominance in the interaction.
Gestures of power during the walk
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After the greeting, Trump and Putin walked together along the airport runway, another moment open to interpretation.
Ulrich noted that the spatial arrangement—with Trump occupying the center—sent a clear message: “There’s Trump in the center, dominating the situation. He talks to the president, he talks to his advisor, and his position reinforces that he is in charge.”
The analyst stated that, although Trump’s body language appeared cordial and friendly, each move was calculated to balance closeness with control. Trump sought to appear as the dominant host while maintaining a diplomatic tone to the meeting with Putin.
This strategic use of space and physical contact is part of what Ulrich described as a “nonverbal negotiation,” where gestures reinforce power positions beyond words.
A press conference without questions
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After their private meeting, both leaders held a joint press conference.
Although they did not take questions from the press, their body language drew attention for its apparent cordiality.
“It’s a calm moment between the two. There’s a very different energy in the room,” Ulrich noted, emphasizing that the interaction showed complicity and an absence of confrontation.
The contrast between Trump’s initial gestures of dominance and the calmness at the end suggests, according to the expert, that Trump sought to project firmness toward his Russian counterpart but also flexibility to maintain a trusting relationship.
The scene illustrates how nonverbal communication can reinforce political messaging in high-profile international settings.
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