A body language expert believes that Donald Trump was “hiding something” when he discussed the United States’ bombing of Iran on Sunday morning. The US president was asked about the impact of the surprise attack amid reports that the damage to the country’s Fordo nuclear facility was not as substantial as had been initially claimed.
He told reporters: “We hear it was a virtual obliteration. Take a look at the ground above. Don’t forget the flame is all underground but everything above, if you look at the before and after picture, everything above is burned black, the trees, everything.
“There is one building but that is a building sunk substantially into the granite, you know the fire goes right over it.
“I believe it was total obliteration. I believe that they didn’t have any chance to get anything out because we acted fast.”
Trump was responding to news reports by the New York Times which said that the strikes only set the country’s nuclear programme back by a few months.
Inbaal Honigman, body language expert, speaking exclusively on behalf of Covers.com believes that Trump’s body language offers potential clues that he might not believe what he is saying entirely.
She said: “When Donald Trump speaks to the press about Iran’s potential response, he is completely relaxed. He’s upfront and not hiding anything.
“We see the US President facing the journalist, shoulders confident and square, making clear, honest eye contact, there’s even a tiny smile dancing on his lips. This means that he’s feeling strong, confident and on top of things.
“He glances to the side when he mentions having somewhat of a relationship with Iran in the future, so at this point, he’s assuming or being hopeful, rather than stating facts.”
“When the President speaks about Israel to the press, his body language is quite different to how he carried himself when he spoke about Iran.
“Gone is his eye contact with the interviewer, now we see him looking downwards. This is an indication that now, he might be hiding something.
“The lowered eyelids suggest that he’s having to carefully consider what to say and what not to say. He may have classified information from Israel that he’s not meant to reveal.”
But it is when he speaks specifically about the audacious US operation that the US president gives his biggest tells.
Honigman added: “President Trump’s body language is a little less confident when talking about the Fordo operation, as he’s seen nodding at times, then shaking his head at others.
“This mixed body language suggests an uneven understanding of the terrain, he doesn’t want to make a mistake, but he’s not sure that he understands every last detail.
“He passes the question along to Defence Secretary Hegseth, but then Trump is viewed again, tapping his fingers together. This nervous move is a self-soothing gesture.
“This movement suggests that this part of the conversation is a little stressful for the President.”
