Body language expert Darren Stanton said Jens Stoltenberg and his advisers looked nervous and uncomfortable during Trump's furious rant this morning
DONALD Trump today gave Nato chiefs a dressing down as though they were a bunch of "naughty schoolchildren", according to our body language expert.
Expert Darren Stanton said Jens Stoltenberg and his advisers looked nervous and uncomfortable during Trump's furious rant.
Ranting at a breakfast this morning with Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, Trump had accused Germany of being "captive" to the Kremlin due to an oil and gas contract with Russia.
He added it was "totally inappropriate" that Germany was paying billions of dollars to Russia for oil and gas while spending little over 1 percent of its GDP on defence.
The President's attendance at the Nato summit today was highly anticipated following months of tough talk on members' contribution spending.
Below, we take a look at Trump and his fellow world leaders' body language.
Darren today said Trump's clash with Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg today looked like a "dressing down to a group of schoolchildren".
He said: "At times the Secretary General can be seen gripping and ringing his hands tightly which in a distress signal for anxiety and is a self reassurance gesture to psychologically protect yourself.
"I found the reactions from the rest of the NATO contingent - as their gestures ranged from looking into space out of embarrassment to shuffling papers in folders - all designed to distract themselves from the spectacle.
"At one point Stoltenberg's hands are suspended in mid-air as he tries to get his point across as Trump talks about Germany being a captive. In that meeting Trump most definitely dominated the proceedings."
He also said Trump's overly-firm handshake antics had returned.
He said: "Look at Trump's hand, his hand is gripping the other tightly and is on top which means: 'I’m here for business. I'm not interested in pleasantries, let’s get on with it'.
"Stoltenberg has wide eyes and his facial expression demonstrates fear or anxiety at the prospects. This is a man intimidated by Trump."
Darren told The Sun Online: "We see Trump making a hand gesture spreading his fingers.
"This is a small version of spreading legs or hands on hips. All designed to promote the view: 'If I’m in charge, I call the shots'.
"Trump is showing a thumbs up sign but the smile is false and disingenuous. We know this because there are no crows' feet at the side of his eyes and his whole face is not engaged.
"This is a typical 'say cheese' photograph that you might have taken at a wedding.
"Trump is displaying what psychologists call a bilateral smile, it shows contempt. So perhaps that smile was for a journalist or photographer.
"Overall, I think Trump is conveying the fact that he’s not in a very forgiving mood and has come to do business."
DONALD Trump is absolutely bang on to demand Nato step up its response to Russian aggression.
And he’s right to challenge other members to pay their dues.
Only four of Nato’s 29 members hit the 2 per cent defence spending target, preferring to splurge on their welfare state and subsidise their biggest firms.
Germany at one point earlier this year had only four of its 128 Typhoons in fighting shape. FOUR. Putin must be shaking in his snow boots.
And Trump’s got a point too when he says that countries reliant on Russian energy must do more to ensure Moscow can’t simply turn off the taps if the worst happens.
Nato’s freeloaders must buck up their ideas, or it simply will not survive.
Despite all this, jumped-up Euro Council president Donald Tusk has wagged his finger at Trump to play nice with the other members.
Or what? Nato’s going to say it doesn’t want America in the club? Fat chance. The sooner Europe’s leaders wake up to the Russian threat and work to reduce it, the better.
Instead, they seem more interested in playground name-calling.
The Prime Minister has taken the right decision to treat Donald Trump with the respect his office deserves and we look forward to his visit.
The only winner from other leaders’ childish behaviour is the Kremlin.
Darren said: "Donald Trump very often adopts posture with his hands which is called 'reverse steep asleep gesture' or 'bridging gesture'.
"In Donald Trump's case, it is a gesture of power and saying: 'I am the most important person here'.
"I found his facial expression very interesting, it’s almost like he is zoned out and is only half listening and he’s not really engaged.
"Then in the second photo, it appears that he zones back in again to answer or acknowledge Merkle's question.
"In Trump's case, I think he’s wondering: 'What time can I leave?'"
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