What Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump’s body language reveals
US president ‘tried to take over’ by patting the North Korean leader multiple times

Body language experts have been unpicking the unprecedented meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore today.
The US president has insisted that he and the North Korean leader “trust” each other and had an “honest, direct and productive” meeting - but what does their body language reveal?
Trump was “desperate to be seen to be in charge”, according to Paul Boross, an authority on communiation and pitching skills.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Analysing the historic handshake between the two leaders, Boross told Sky News that the US president “tried to take over” during their “very, very staged” first encounter.
Trump gave Kim several pats on the arm after the handshake, which Boross described as a “control indicator”.
“Trump tries to take over and he is doing as many pats as he can, which is very interesting because actually it doesn’t necessarily show the man who’s in charge,” he explained. “What it actually shows is the man who’s desperate to be seen to be in charge.”
Kim - who appeared to be wearing “lifts” in his shoes to make him seem taller - showed more control by staying very still and not reacting to all the touching, Boross added.
Karen Leong, managing director of Singapore-based talent development firm Influence Solutions, agreed that both leaders were trying to take charge. However, she noted that both found it difficult to conceal their nervousness once they were sitting down.
Trump displayed a slanted smile and fidgeted with his hands, while Kim was leaning and staring at the ground, Leong told Australian news site news.com.au.
However, cultural differences also need to be taken into account when analysing the exchange, according to Australian expert Allan Pease. For example, there seemed to be an awkward moment when Trump stared at Kim and the North Korean leader looked away, Pease told the South China Morning Post.
But in Korean culture, it is polite not to make full eye contact with someone who is older, and Trump is twice Kim’s age, the body language expert explained.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Is Prince Harry owed protection?
Talking Point The Duke of Sussex claims he has been singled out for 'unjustified and inferior treatment' over decision to withdraw round-the-clock security
By The Week UK
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The fight for control of Ukraine's nuclear reactors
The Explainer How serious is Donald Trump about US ownership of Kyiv's nuclear power plants?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
The El Salvador mega-prison at the centre of Trump's deportation scheme
The Explainer Invoking a 1798 law, the US president has sent hundreds of alleged gang members to high-security prison called 'black hole of human rights'
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Romania's election chaos risks international fallout
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By barring far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from the country's upcoming electoral re-do, Romania places itself in the center of a broader struggle over European ultra-nationalism
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US