Trump's Lips 'Go White' With Fear, Anxiety During Court Appearance, Body Language Expert Says
Donald Trump looked "deflated," and his lips turned "white" due to possible fear following the pre-trial hearing in his hush-money case Monday, a body language expert has suggested.
Judi James analyzed Trump's body language during his appearance at Manhattan Criminal Court and subsequent address after a judge ruled Monday that his criminal trial over alleged hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels will begin on April 15.
On the same day, the former president and current presumptive Republican presidential nominee scored a legal victory in a separate case when his appeal bond in his New York civil fraud case was reduced to $175 million from roughly half a billion dollars, and he was given 10 more days to post it.
The body language expert suggested to The Mirror that Trump looked "a little chastened and a little deflated" during his court appearance and address, a video of which was shared by LiveNow From Fox.
Explaining why she believed the ex-POTUS appeared more timid than usual, James pointed to Trump "glancing to the side to reflect before he speaks rather than spewing his words out angrily and passionately."
The expert also observed that the former president appeared to use his signature phrases "without the usual clarity" and seemed more "polite" to the press.
James also listed several other possible gestures that signaled Trump's supposed feeling of unease.
"He refers to himself in the third person, which sounds like a disassociation here," James noted, "and as his lips seem to go white in what can be a signal of anxiety or fear, he performs several tongue-pokes to suggest rejection or disgust."
Trump's shoulders also looked "hunched," and his head was "down" as he walked away after the press conference, according to the body language expert.
Just a day before the hearing, Trump was in a celebratory mood as he boasted about winning two club championship trophies at his own Florida golf club.
"It is my great honor to be at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach tonight, AWARDS NIGHT, to receive THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY & THE SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY," Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday. "I WON BOTH!"
He continued, "A large and golfing talented membership, a GREAT and difficult course, made the play very exciting. The qualifying and match play was amazing."
On Sunday night, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, as he was presented with his trophies by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus during an event at the former president's West Palm Beach club.
Photos published by the Daily Mail from the event showed Trump flashing a huge grin while holding a trophy.
Trump also had another reason to celebrate with the recent merger between Truth Social's parent company Trump Media and Technology Group and Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC).
Bloomberg reported that the move made Trump one of the 500 wealthiest people in the world as it boosted his estimated net worth by more than $4 billion.
