Trump And Putin Greet As ‘Old Friends’ In Alaska Summit: Body Language Expert
Presidents Donald J. Trump and Vladimir Putin met Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage for their first in-person meeting in six years, with the war in Ukraine and U.S.–Russia economic cooperation topping the agenda.
The nearly three-hour summit ended without a ceasefire agreement, but Trump called the discussions “very productive,” saying there were “many points we agreed on” and “a couple of big ones” still unresolved. Both leaders hinted at progress but acknowledged that differences remain over the terms of a possible peace framework, Newsweek reported.
The greeting between the two presidents on the tarmac drew as much attention as the policy outcome. With cameras rolling, Trump and Putin met on a red carpet, shook hands, and rode together to the summit site. Their gestures and body language were dissected almost immediately, offering clues about the dynamic between the leaders and the way each sought to project strength, familiarity, and control.
atty Ann Wood, a body language expert consulted by Newsweek, said the encounter conveyed a mix of deference, confidence, and subtle competition.
As Putin approached, Trump applauded lightly and stepped forward. “That shows respect toward Putin,” Wood said, noting that Trump’s movement broke from his usual practice of waiting to be greeted.
At the handshake itself, Trump presented his palm upward rather than asserting his hand on top. “Trump typically likes to have his hand on top, but here it appears he presented his palm up — a weaker, more subordinate position — indicating he sees Putin as more powerful,” Wood explained. Still, Trump maintained one of his signature moves: keeping the handshake tight to his mid-body. “That pulls the other person in, a display of power,” she said.