US President Donald Trump and the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met for the first time on Tuesday, May 6, when Trump welcomed Carney into the White House.
Although the two seemed friendly, a body language expert has broken down their interaction which took place after each leader made their own not-so-friendly remarks on the other.
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Trump had made a shocking post
Before meeting with the new Canadian prime minister, Trump made a shocking post on Truth Social about the country’s relations with the US.
“I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney,” Trump started.
He didn’t like how things were going
After commenting on how much money the US subsidizes Canada yearly, Trump said, “We don’t need their Cars, we don’t need their Energy, we don’t need their Lumber, we don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain.”
He claimed, “They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us! The Prime Minister will be arriving shortly and that will be, most likely, my only question of consequence.”
Carney has also stood his ground
With Trump feeling as though he has a lot to give to Canada while getting little back, Carney has also issued some strong words of his own where he spoke to supporters in Ottawa about the relationship between the two countries.
The Canadian PM issued a warning
Carney said, “As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country – never.”
“But these are not these are not idle threats, President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us – that will never, that will never ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed,” he added.
A body language expert shared her interpretation of the meeting
Following these tense words, the two leaders met up at the White House on May 6 for the first time.
And while the two seemed friendly enough, body language expert, Beth Dawson, has explained what she believes their greeting was actually like.
She started with the two shaking hands
Dawson explained, “Mark Carney approaches President Trump with his head slightly inclined forward and initiates a handshake, simultaneously placing a hand on Trump’s elbow.”
“The forward head position suggests assertiveness, yet also shows a subtle note of submission: Carney appears somewhat apprehensive.”
She explained they were playing for power
Dawson added, “The elbow touch, however, shows that he wants to establish connection on equal terms. His expression is one of determination. Carney is not passive, but he is also careful not to come across as overly forceful and he does seem slightly intimidated.”
Trump seems to have tried to have the upper hand
Speaking of Carney, Dawson went on, “His posture reflects respect for the encounter, though he is evidently intent on not being dominated. The subtle tilt of his head reveals a degree of deference.”
She also claimed that as Carney touches Trump’s elbow, Trump “raises his right shoulder” which is a “classic dominance signal.”
Dawson also spoke about their posture
The expert added, “Trump’s posture is initially slightly stooped, indicating a welcoming stance, but shortly thereafter he makes a subtle shift to stand more upright and raises his fist in a defiant gesture, an unmistakable display of dominance.”
“Throughout, Carney maintains a fixed smile and steady eye contact,” she said before adding, “There is a visible, if restrained, sense that he is slightly intimidated in Trump’s presence.”
The meeting certainly had its tense moments
During their meeting, the two leaders spoke about many things, one of which was Trump’s desire to take over Canada and have it become the 51st US state. He told Carney, “I still believe [Canada could be the 51st] state but it takes two to tango.”
According to the BBC, Carney responded, “Some places are never for sale.”
