A body language expert has today lifted the lid on the ‘frosty’ relationship between Theresa May and Donald Trump as the leaders hold tense talks after he trashed her Brexit plans.
The US President rocked Westminster after he gave an incendiary interview slamming her Brexit blueprint and warning that it killed off hopes for a transatlantic trade deal.
And he heaped praise on Boris Johnson saying he would make a ‘great’ PM just days after the Brexiteer plunged Mrs May’s Government into turmoil by quitting.
Mr Trump was quizzed about whether he regretted the interview in an awkward moment when he was sat with Mrs May at Chequers in front of the press pack.
The Prime Minister rolled her eyes when she overheard the question in the tense sit down.
Body language expert Judi James tells MailOnline that the distinctly frosty relations were on show for the world to see when the two leaders greeted each other on the steps of Chequers today.
The US President (pictured meeting Theresa May today at Chequers) rocked Westminster after he gave an incendiary interview slamming her Brexit blueprint and warning that it killed off hopes for a transatlantic trade deal.
Frame 1 analysis: Theresa May stands on the steps waiting for Donald Trump to walk over from his car to her at Chequers. Judi James say that by staying rooted to the spot the PM is sending out a pointed message to the President
Frame 2 analysis: Judi James said that by standing on the steps above the US president and extending her hand the PM is giving a ‘distance shake’ which highlights the frosty relations between the pair
Frame 3 analysis: The two leaders stand slightly apart and the PM gives a ‘slewed half smile’ – this signals her ambiguous feelings towards Donald Trump
Frame 4 analysis: Body language expert Judi James tells MailOnline that Mr Trump was squeezing May’s hand very tightly. His thumb and fingers clamp her hand, with his knuckles turning white, and the way her skin has gone into folds suggests there was a lot of extra pressure going into his greeting ritual
Frame 5 analysis: detailing the body language on display inside the Chequers meeting, Judi James said: ‘Trump recreated the ‘Trump-slump’ he uses with Angela Merkel, with his legs splayed and his hands placed in the downward steeple power gesture
She said: ‘At a low point like this in their meetings and negotiations it can be all about the subtler body language nuances for Theresa May and Donald Trump.
‘Last night May stood outside waiting in the open courtyard at Blenheim for Trump to arrive in what is called an act of inconvenience.
‘Political leaders use this greeting technique to show how honoured and respected a visitor is: the higher the status the further out from their premises the host will come to greet them.
‘Today at Chequers May was clearly moving no further than her own doorstep as Trump’s car rolled slowly up the drive.
‘She remained fixed to this spot as he stepped out of the car and he was forced to make the slow walk up to meet her, rather than the other way round.
‘This might not have looked like a freeze-out but in the more businesslike environment of Chequers it would have set out May’s stall quite emphatically that while social politeness is a given at events like the Blenheim dinner, when it comes to meetings like this her attitude can be slightly different.
‘Their shake was firm and May patted Trump’s arm in a small power-pat.
‘This ‘Distance Shake’ placed Trump on the back foot when May instigated the greeting ritual before he had made it up the steps, leaving him at a lower level with her standing above him, making his pose look submissive.
‘Their eye-wrinkled smiles suggest genuine pleasure, but their expressions were hugely incongruent, with very little mouth movement to form anything other than sickly-looking grins.’
‘May performed a small power-pat on Trump’s arm but that could also have been a ‘break’ signal.
‘Close inspection of the hands suggest Trump was squeezing May’s hand very tightly.
‘His thumb and fingers clamp her hand, with his knuckles turning white, and the way her skin has gone into folds suggests there was a lot of extra pressure going into his greeting ritual.
‘Then the pair stood apart and to attention for the photos with May performing a slewed half smile that signaled ambiguous feelings while his clamped lips and part frown suggested tolerance, rather than like.
‘Sitting inside there was a clear sense of frost over their body language together.
‘Trump recreated the ‘Trump-slump’ he uses with Angela Merkel, with his legs splayed and his hands placed in the downward steeple power gesture.
‘It was noticable that he began tapping his fingertips together during the photo-call in a metronomic gesture of impatience.
‘At one point his hand-out gesture suggested he was asking May to end the shoot but she again flexed her authority using six double-handed ‘calm’ hand-flap restraining gestures to imply he wait where he was.
‘There was little if any chat between the pair and May’s open-mouthed smile looked sickly rather than warm.’