Body language expert reveals the moment Harris 'took control' of debate with Trump and never looked back
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Body language expert Judi James claimed Kamala Harris successfully maintained momentum throughout the presidential debate by assertively shaking hands with Donald Trump before they began sparring on Tuesday, September 10.
Ahead of the debate, the GOP nominee took to social media to demand that his Democrat rival should not be permitted to have a pedestal behind her podium possibly in an attempt to project his 6-foot-3-inch stature over the stage.
Harris, in fact, had the shorter podium during the debate, which helped her to appear closer to the same stature as Trump in a split screen.
Judi James details how Kamala Harris dominated the stage right from the opening moments
According to Judi James, Kamala Harris was in control from the start after spending days perfecting her moves with a close-knit circle of advisors.
"Her greeting ritual of Trump allowed her to take instant control and the status higher ground," claimed James, as per Daily Mail.
The body language expert added, "Walking across the stage with energy and intent she offered her hand to Trump and introduced herself."
She explained, "The Attribution Effect involves the lasting impact of creating an impression of leadership or power in the first few seconds of meeting and the rule of a handshake means that the host is the one who instigates it."
"Trump looked nonplussed here. His power shakes are legendary but he was left responding with a weak-looking hand," noted James.
Judi James on why Kamala Harris looked more accomplished than Donald Trump
Judi James further claimed that even though Donald Trump spent four years in the White House and thirteen as the star of 'The Apprentice', his opponent appeared to be a more skilled TV performer due to her "direct and often intimate conversation and pitch to the viewer."
"By looking straight into the camera as she spoke and introducing her words with attention-catching, personalized phrases like 'Let’s talk about', 'Get this…', and 'Understand,'" said the body language expert.
James expressed, ''She controlled our attention and made her points personal and relevant. Hers was a talk to the viewer, enabling her to change minds and voting tendencies by flattering them."
Judi James explains why Donald Trump failed to capitalize on audience-free studio environment
In contrast, Donald Trump found it difficult to adjust to the studio setting without an audience following weeks of speaking at political events.
"While Harris kept her tone chatty and intimate, Trump began to shout as though he were on stage. This technique might work with his large live audiences but in an empty studio it looked and sounded wrong and out-of-date," remarked James.
She added, "He also used all the same familiar lines that he uses in his rallies, making Harris look and sound like the fresh message."
The cameras were still filming both candidates even though their microphones were muted throughout their opponent's speeches. Harris effectively used the time she had to communicate with her body language.
The body language expert noted, "Her raised chin and brows, her shaking head and knowing smiles or her pursed lips all gave the impression of intelligent evaluation and mockery. But her coupe de grace was her pose with one hand placed to her chin."
"She did this gesture twice as she turned to listen to Trump and it gave the message of superiority and evaluation. She narrowed her eyes to emphasize her disbelief at his words. At one point she watched him with a facial expression of pity. His split-screen responses looked too immobile," asserted James.
She concluded, "He seemed to have been briefed to not be too directly attacking but his smug, closed-lip smile and his narrowed eyes worked better with Biden than it did with the much sharper and more animated Harris."
Kamala Harris was aware of her best chances to get under Donald Trump's skin
According to Judi James, Kamala Harris is aware that there is a razor-thin margin in the campaign for the White House and that getting under Donald Trump's skin was one of her greatest options to influence the outcome.
At one point, Trump, who had performed admirably in the debate against Joe Biden, supposedly appeared "rattled" by his younger rival and "visibly wounded" by some of Harris's deft barbs.
"She said how people at his rallies get bored and leave early and she used the word ‘fired’, his TV catchphrase, to say 81 million people fired him during the last election," observed James.
She added, "Trump’s blink rate increased and he became visibly angered. His tone rose to a shout, his lower jaw jutted, showing his teeth and at one point he even has spittle on his lower lip. It also made him veer off-point verbally, throwing different subjects into his answers."
"During his debate with Biden, Trump came across as the younger man mocking a President who could barely put his words together. His was the voice you wanted to listen to. Here though he seemed to have nothing new to offer, allowing Harris to bring the fresh energy and the voice that stimulated interest," pointed out James.
The body language expert further stated that the GOP nominee's "lowest point came when, after Harris spoke repeatedly about her plans, Trump replied to the host who accused him of not having a plan, that 'I have the concept of a plan.'"
She further stated, "His claim that people are 'eating pets in Springfield' allowed Harris to burst out laughing before producing her expression of pity."
Judi James says Kamala Harris scored winning points in nearly every aspect
Donald Trump had won the toss before the debate to determine who would make the last, concluding speech. However, this gave Kamala Harris permission to take up the platform on the viewer's screen to the right, which is psychologically more prominent, as per Judi James.
And even though she was denied the chance to have the last say, the current vice president made the most of her last speech to the public.
"When Harris did her solo speech summary she threw Trump two looks of utter contempt, turning in his direction with the 'fun' smile now gone from her eyes, and looking him up and down as though believing she had finished him off," noted James.
She remarked, "Harris’ coaching and planning paid off tonight as she scored winning points in nearly every aspect of her performance in this debate."
