Donald Trump showed signs of respect toward President Joe Biden during their meeting at the White House on Wednesday, according to a body language expert.
The president-elect spoke with Biden for the first time since his victory last week.
Members of the White House press corps were allowed into the Oval Office for quick remarks, where video was recorded for about two minutes before the two had a private meeting without cameras.
Trump, 78, appeared to adopt a more “passive” stance as he leaned forward during his meeting with Biden, 81, in a sign he was lowering his status to show respect for the current commander in chief.
‘His adopted attitude also avoids any attitude of power. His body language is calm and politely more passive than Biden’s, as if he is willing to show some final signals of respect here,” body language analyst Judi James told DailyMail.com.
Donald Trump sat lower in his seat and appeared to strike a respectful pose during his meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Wednesday, November 13, 2024
The meeting Wednesday marks former President Trump’s first return to the White House since he left in January 2021 and declined to attend his successor’s inauguration.
Trump will move there again in January 2025 for his second term, after a historic victory last Tuesday.
All eyes were on Trump and Biden and the way they interacted during the brief conversation, shaking hands and making brief remarks to ensure a smooth transition between administrations.
“Trump sits quite low in his seat and uses two key gestures: a desire to appear accommodating rather than overbearing,” James noted.
“First, he uses active listening cues as Biden speaks, including a forward torso lead and some nods,” she told DailyMail.com of the former and future president’s body language. “His hands are placed between his spread knees, avoiding any competition with Biden’s emphatic ‘man-splay’ ritual of legs spread wide and a hand on each knee.”
James noted of the handshake: “When Biden then initiates their handshake by raising his hand in the air, Trump lowers his own perceived status by leaning his torso fully forward, even placing his free hand around his stomach to to bow, in an act of discomfort. allowing Biden to temporarily look like a top dog.”
Biden kicked things off by publicly congratulating Trump, saying, “Well, Mr. President-elect and former President, Donald, congratulations.”
The two shook hands, but Trump noticeably bent over at the waist out of respect for the current commander in chief, according to a body language expert
The two men made very brief remarks to reporters before being escorted from the Oval Office so Trump and Biden could hold a private meeting.
“And I look forward to having, as we said, a smooth transition,” the president added. ‘Do everything you can to make sure you get the shelter you need. And we get a chance today to talk a little bit about that. So welcome back.”
“Thank you very much,” Trump replied.
“Politics is tough, and in many cases it’s not a very nice world,” he continued. “But it’s a beautiful world today and I really appreciate it – and a transition that goes this smoothly will be as smooth as possible. And I really appreciate that. Thank you.’
‘Don’t mention it. Thank you all,” Biden replied as he dismissed the press.
Trump used a softer voice than usual during their brief exchange with the cameras.
Trump returned to the White House for the first time since leaving office in January 2021. He also dropped by a House GOP Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on Nov. 13, along with his new closest confidante Elon Musk.
“His words also sound warm and conciliatory, as he mentions that it is a ‘beautiful world today’ to register their signs of peace and ability to play together beautifully,” the body language analyst notes.
During their conversation, James notes that “at one point Trump even controls the downward tower of his hands, turning the mild power gesture into a less status-induced grip.”
She said that when he tapped his fingertips gently, he formed “a metronomic gesture implying some suppressed impatience.”