Donald Trump’s ‘humiliation’ during an uncomfortable interaction with FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been analyzed by a body language expert.
This incident occurred at the FIFA World Cup Draw on a Friday.
During the event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the President of the United States received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, which was broadcast globally.
Trump was seen grinning at the Peace Prize statue as Infantino explained its significance to those present.
Infantino stated that the award was for someone who had ‘taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace’ and ‘united people across the world’.
Addressing Trump, the FIFA President remarked: “This is your peace prize. There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go.”
Trump awkwardly held up the medal, appearing unsure of how to handle it, as Infantino did not place it around his neck.
A microphone picked up Trump saying ‘Right now’, as he set the mic aside to put on his medal.
“Ok, let me hold -ah, fantastic,” Infantino remarked as Trump donned the medal.
Body language expert Judi James shared insights with The Mirror US regarding Trump’s non-verbal communication.
“Trump’s non-verbal purrs of pleasure would have reached a peak as his gaze was directed from the World Cup to a medal that was being delivered,” she speculated.
“The honor clearly suited him, although the method of delivery might have failed to reach his expectations,” she noted.
“Instead of the medal being ‘awarded’ by being hung around his neck in an honorable and historic ritual, as the World Cup football medals are bestowed by a dignitary after a match, there was an awkward moment here for Trump,” she observed.
“Trump was directed to the medal, and his comedic response of lifting it himself with a playful grin to the audience hints at a small drop of sarcasm for what might have been a solemn Presidential moment. He struggled with the medal and the mic, having to put the mic down onto the table in order to hang the medal around his own neck,” James added, suggesting it diminished the moment for the president.
“Despite the slightly lowering experience though, Trump’s ‘bullfrog smile’ to the audience signaled strong feelings of pride and pleasure at having at last being awarded some form of peace prize,” she stated.
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” Trump commented.
He reciprocated the praise to Infantino, saying: “Gianni has done an incredible job. It is a nice tribute to you and the game of football, or as we call it soccer. It is beyond the numbers we thought were possible,” Trump mentioned.
“The world is a safer place now. The USA was not doing well a year ago; now we are the hottest country in the world right now.”
In the previous month, Trump introduced a new plan dubbed the ‘FIFA Pass’ for foreigners attending the U.S. for the World Cup.
This initiative will offer expedited visa appointments for those purchasing World Cup tickets through FIFA.