Trump and Obama pose for awkward White House photo that expert claims reveals what they’re ‘really’ thinking
Body language expert unravels what the President and President-elect were really 'saying' about each other in this difficult photo call
PRESIDENT-elect Donald Trump met with President Barack Obama at the White House where the pair shared an excruciatingly awkward handshake.
The tension was palpable as Obama praised Trump saying he was "encouraged" by the divisive billionaire's interest in working with his team during their "wide-ranging" chat.
And the former Apprentice host spoke glowingly about his 90 minute meeting with the Democratic President calling it "a great honour" - despite repeatedly questioning Obama's place of birth over his eight year stint as Commander in Chief.
He said: "We had never met. The meeting was supposed to last 10 minutes, I have great respect (for him), it went on for an hour-and-a-half and as far as I’m concerned it could have gone on longer.
"We really we discussed a lot of different situations, some wonderful and some difficulties.
"I very much look forward to dealing with the president in the future, including counsel.
"Mr President, it was a great honour being with you and I look forward to being with you many many more times in the future."
President Obama said he was pleased with how the meeting went and insisted that his main priority was the smooth transition of power.
He said he "encouraged" by Trump's desire to "work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces".
'WILLY-WAVING'
Body language expert Judi James gives her analysis of the historic meeting
We shouldn't be fooled by the superficial mirroring and wan smiles, this meeting between Trump and Obama was a clash of the alphas, and the body position known as 'willy-waving' confirms that.
- Both men sat well beyond the social distance apart with their legs at full splay, which is a ritual of superiority that is more about machismo than intellect or job titles. It showed a very basic animosity below what looked like a desire to signal a relaxed and casual meet-up. Trump's steepled hands added to this air of competitive masculinity and he even tapped his fingers together with a look of impatience to get on with the job.
- There was some weak joking towards the end, then Trump turned Obama's dismissive offer of a stretched hand to shake into a much more enthusiastic gesture by grabbing the hand and pumping it warmly.
- The eye expressions and lack of mutual eye contact probably said it all though. Trump is having his waxwork made for Tussauds but it looked from the dead eye expressions as though both men had used their wax dummies as body double stand-ins for the meeting.
He added: "And I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together, to deal with the many challenges that we face."
The Democrat said that his wife First Lady Michelle Obama had spent some time with Trump's wife Melania and revealed his family wanted them to feel welcome in the White House.
After meeting with Obama, the new President-elect had lunch with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. Trump and Ryan repeatedly clashed during the campaign over the billionaire's divisive policies.
After lunch, Trump and vice-president elect Mike Pence had a meeting with US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Trump flew from New York on his private jet today and landed at Reagan National Airport, just outside the capital.
Trump's motorcade took a South Lawn entrance into the White House, out of view of television cameras.
Obama and Trump held a brief photo opportunity in the Oval Office, while the full transition of power will officially take place on January 20.
Previously, Trump championed the so-called "Birther movement", challenging that Obama was actually born in the US.
Democrat Obama in turn has described the celebrity businessman as "uniquely unqualified" to be president.
White House chief of staff Denis McDonough was seen taking a walk around the South Lawn driveway with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
A handful of other Trump aides trailed behind McDonough and Kushner, who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka and was one of his closest advisers during the campaign.
Vice President Joe Biden also had a meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
Obama has said Trump's team will start working directly with federal agencies this week on the transition.
Trump's team will start getting briefings related to the Defense Department, State Department, Treasury Department and other agencies.
These will include budget details, flow charts for staff and other information.
Officials at those agencies will start speaking regularly to Trump team members to facilitate the handover of power in January.
The White House also says the Obama administration will host two "exercises" involving multiple agencies to help familiarise Trump's team with government practices and systems for responding to domestic emergencies.
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