When President Trump went to China and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, much of the media focused on the smiles, handshakes, ceremonial greetings, and photo opportunities. Many commentators concluded the meeting was warm, friendly, and uneventful. I saw something very different.
As a body language expert who has spent more than forty years analyzing human behavior, I said at the time that this was not a meeting of two relaxed leaders simply enjoying each other's company. Beneath the smiles was tension.
President Trump's facial expressions, controlled demeanor, emotional restraint, and serious expression suggested that, while he was acting as a diplomat, significant issues weighed heavily on his mind. That is exactly what great diplomacy looks like.
Some people later asked, "If President Trump believed China was interfering in American interests, why didn't he confront Xi Jinping publicly during the meeting?"
The answer is simple. Because that isn't diplomacy.
World leaders do not generally air every serious disagreement in front of television cameras. They maintain decorum, preserve diplomatic relationships, and often address difficult matters privately while protecting their country's interests.
Looking back at that summit, I believe President Trump's body language told us there was much more happening beneath the surface than the smiling photographs suggested.
The other day, President Trump gave one of the most important nationally televised addresses in the history of any Presidency (which ABC, NBC, AND CNN viciously refused to air) in which the President discussed China's role in election interference and other national security concerns as he described them.
Whether people agreed with his conclusions or not, his speech reflected a seriousness very different from the smiling photographs taken during his meeting with President Xi.
After learning about President Trump's findings, critics have asked if China did all of this interference and nefarious activity, then why did Trump appear so cordial during the visit?
My answer is simple. Because he was doing exactly what a President is supposed to do. A President represents the United States on the world stage. His responsibility is to gather information, negotiate, preserve diplomatic relationships when appropriate, and protect America's interests. Publicly or even privately in many cases, confronting another world leader during a state visit rarely advances those goals.
There is a time to negotiate. There is a time to gather information. There is a time to present your evidence, and that time was during Trump's groundbreaking and shocking speech where he exposed what China had done concerning election interference.
When Trump visited Xi in China, his posture was erect and confident. His facial expressions were controlled. His smiles were measured rather than carefree. His demeanor reflected someone carrying the weight of serious issues while maintaining the composure expected of a world leader.
That is why I believed then—and still believe now—that the meeting with President Xi was never simply about smiles and handshakes. It was diplomacy in action. And whether you like Trump or not, the bottom line is that Trump has been a shrewd negotiator and has used diplomacy in his earlier life as a businessman.
Once again, all of this proves what I initially saw - that the body never lies!