Body language experts claims Trump showed Mamdani “who is boss” | US | News
As President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani squirted over each other In the Oval Office today, a body language expert points out that the US leader used a signature “power gesture” to control the entire press conference.
“Trump’s technique here looks like this: charm mix offensive There are some nice power signals that show who’s boss, as well as visually placing Mamdani somewhere in the pocket, as well as more subdued signals that hint at a potential battle going on,” says body language expert Judi James.
“The technique of possession Mamdani standing while sitting “It’s a power move, but he also used it with Musk at the height of their friendship,” James explains in the majority of press conferences. Elon Musk and Trump spoke together; Musk stood behind Trump, allowing the president to take the lead.
When the president and the mayor-elect met, the media expected a showdown; but instead they ran into a duo who seemed to agree, and Trump suddenly began focusing on a candidate he had previously called “Communist Mamdani.” But Trump, with his subtlest gestures, showed the room that he and Mamdani were “charming” each other but that Trump remained the boss.
“At one point, Trump grins at the mayor, tells him not to bother with a tough question, and waves his hand at the press in good humor. He raises one hand to pat the mayor’s amputated arm,” James says. He is referring to the moment when Mamdani and Trump were taking questions from reporters and the mayor was asked about an earlier comment he made in which he called Trump a “fascist.”
Trump laughed, took the question, said he had been “called worse,” and patted Mamdani on the arm as Mamdani ignored the question.
“This power strike is repeated by Trump, who strikes Mamdani hard on the arm, then slaps her on the arm, and this time as he extends his hand to shake it, he slaps her again, and as he does so, he slams his hand on top of Mamdani,” James said.
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“These bangs and slaps are loud, and although they suggest a kind of increased civility, they are also rituals of power that show Trump has the measure of the Mayor,” James adds.
Mamdani arrived at the White House around 3 p.m., and both sides appeared open to discussing areas for improvement in their respective states, despite the president calling him a “100% Communist Crazy” and a “complete nut.” In an interview Friday morning, President Trump said he expected the meeting to be “pretty civil.”
But the meeting surprised everyone from across the spectrum; Trump and Mamdani were revealed to have agreed on how to improve cities, police, transportation and even peace in the Middle East, triggering online backlash from supporters of both.
While Friday’s meeting seemed cordial enough, it’s unclear whether that diplomacy will continue after Mamdani leaves the White House and takes office in January. It’s unlikely Trump will continue to pay the compliment, given Trump’s pattern of outweighing mayors and local elected officials in other states when it comes to the National Guard and increased ICE agents.
