Theresa May was filmed at yesterday's Nato summit appearing to ignore Trump's handshake offer and deflecting his attention towards new Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
THERESA MAY snubbing Donald Trump's offer of a handshake yesterday was a "slam dunk" power play, our body language expert says.
The Prime Minister was filmed at yesterday's Nato summit appearing to ignore Trump's handshake offer as she deflected his attention towards new Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Expert Darren Stanton told The Sun Online May had managed to use one of Trump's own body language power plays, called the "power pat", against him.
He said: "He makes a beeline for her with his hand outstretched, however she has other ideas and completely snubs him and deflects the handshake onto Jeremy Hunt.
"She then uses his own technique on him by placing her hand on his back, which we as psychologists call 'the power pat'.
"It’s a power gesture translated to mean 'I'm much more powerful than you'. A complete double slam dunk for the PM. This was a masterclass in how to snub the world's most powerful man."
In a clip from the floor of the Nato meeting Mr Trump is seen moving through the room shaking hands with world leaders, he moves towards Mrs May, who has her hand out.
But as the American leader moves his out to meet the PM's she withdraws it and ushers him in the direction of Mr Hunt.
The PM then places her hand on his back, as she introduces him to the person that has replaced Boris, who Mr Trump called a "friend" just yesterday.
Yesterday we reported how Darren believes Trump gave Nato chiefs a dressing down as though they were a bunch of "naughty schoolchildren".
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."
Darren told The Sun Online: "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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