Body language expert says Trump put ‘his palm almost under’ Zelensky's chin to show dominance

WASHINGTON, DC: When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met President Donald Trump on Monday, August 18, cameras captured not just their words but a subtle struggle for control.

Body language experts say Trump’s gestures, from a clenched fist to forceful handshakes, projected dominance, while Zelensky’s responses signaled quiet resistance.

The two leaders discussed US-Ukraine relations amid Russia’s ongoing invasion, but their physical interactions told an equally revealing story. Analysts say Trump’s movements conveyed authority, sometimes bordering on condescension, while Zelensky worked to hold his ground.

Experts say Trump’s gestures showed control and dominance

Traci Brown, an author and body language expert, pointed to Donald Trump’s opening fist pump as Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House.

“It starts out with Trump giving his power fist,” Brown said. “He’s planning on being in full control. He’s very cordial to Zelensky, complimenting his suit but sticking his hands way too close into Zelensky’s space with his palm almost under his chin. This is a sign of control.”

Patti Wood, a nonverbal communication expert, described the gesture as more than just a greeting. “Subconsciously, what that means is he feels like he’s in for a fight, and he has to defend himself,” she said. “It’s an example of what’s called a symbolic weapon. And because it’s the first thing he does in response to this meeting, that makes it much more powerful.”

“This is an unconscious show that Trump can move him around,” she explained. “Zelensky sways but doesn’t move his feet preferring to keep his independence.”

Psychologist Denise M Dudley saw the physicality as belittling, “Trump is manhandling the president of a country. He’s got a hold of him and is doing these really minimizing actions with Zelensky,” she said. “He’s putting his hand on top of his shoulder. He’s putting his arm around him in a very patronizing way, as if to say, ‘You’re not on my level. I can usher you in like you’re my date to the prom.’”

Wood agreed, comparing one arm-around-shoulder gesture to a warning from a parent, saying, “The way Trump brings his arm up and around the shoulder, back and neck of Zelensky and pulls him in is kind of like a dad telling a kid ‘you better behave.’”

Zelensky pushed back with steady hand and posture

While Donald Trump sought to lead, Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back subtly. Body language expert Karen Donaldson highlighted how the Ukrainian president countered Trump’s hand-tugging handshake,

“We witness President Zelensky placing his hand on top of President Trump’s hand during the latter part of the handshake,” Donaldson said. “When someone places their hand on top of another during a handshake it’s a subtle way to exert dominance over the other person.”

Wood observed a similar clash, “So Zelensky took his left arm and hand and went into what’s called a top-down position, where he’s holding Trump’s hand down as if to say, ‘No, I’m going to battle with you. You’re not going to pull me in and think you’ve won.’ He keeps holding it, and Trump continues to tug, pulling them both close to his chest. You can see Zelensky pulled slightly off balance, but he maintains that top-down grip. It’s a continued battle.”

Donaldson added that Zelensky’s seated posture projected calm readiness, “President Zelensky has his hands clasped, with his fingers loosely interlaced… It signals more comfort than discomfort. However, we often interlace our own fingers to feel more secure in a situation, it’s a form of self-soothing.”

Trump's body language also showed rare levity

Despite the dominant displays, experts noted moments of warmth. Dudley said Trump seemed to genuinely laugh when Zelensky responded humorously to Brian Glenn’s comment about his suit, “Generally, Trump is not somebody who genuinely laughs — he’s usually so singularly focused on putting on the Trump show. But here, with Zelensky, he let out a real laugh. I think that’s interesting.”

Donaldson also saw some gestures as conciliatory rather than controlling. “President Trump did the hand steeple, in fact, a low steeple where his fingers are pointing down, which is a sign of self-assuredness, self-confidence and that he’s comfortable in this space. The lower the steeple signifies more thoughtfulness, the higher the steeple represents more authority,” she said. 

She also interpreted Trump’s palms-up greeting as a sign of openness rather than dominance, and described his earlier fist pumping as possibly signaling solidarity.