Body language expert explains Donald Trump's hidden response when asked about viral death rumours

Donald Trump made an announcement from the White House yesterday (2 September) during which he was asked about the viral death rumours that have followed him for the past few days.

Some thought he was going to directly address the health issues or even declare he was resigning the presidency, but that turned out to be wishful thinking.

The rumours took off after people spotted bruises that Trump appeared to be trying to cover up on his hands, and then JD Vance said he'd be ready to step up in case something might happen.

He wasn't seen in public for a couple of days which only fuelled the rumours that the 79-year-old had died, before he made a public statement confirming he was still breathing.

There has been much focus on Donald Trump's hands, but a body language expert said he wasn't trying to hide them (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trump's big announcement turned out to be that the US Space Command, the branch of the military responsible for space, would be relocated from Colorado and moving to a new home in Alabama.

However, there was a chance for journalists to ask him questions and Trump was inevitably quizzed about how he felt about rumours of his death and body language expert Inbaal Honigman, speaking on behalf of Covers.com, told LADbible about an 'almost imperceptible response' the US president made on the topic.

A 'difference' in the way he moves his hands

Honigman noted that Donald Trump appeared to be moving his hand very differently during his second term as president compared to his first stint in the White House.

She said Trump used to have a 'wide, broad hand move' which made him come across as a 'wheeler dealer' who was trying to sell something to his audience.

That's apparently not the case this time around. Plenty of people have spotted the bruises on Trump's hands, or the makeup seemingly used to obscure them, but the body language expert said that in his second term Trump preferred to keep his hands under podiums and in his lap, with them 'no longer moving wildly as he speaks'.

The expert suggested that someone had had a word with Trump on his excessive gestures and got him to tone things down.

At last night's announcement, she didn't see signs that he was attempting to hide his hands though, as Honigman noted that he adjusted his tie and pointed at journalists instead of always keeping his hands tucked away.

When asked about the rumours of his death Trump kept a 'presidential' face, but there was apparently one giveaway (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The 'presidential' facial expression

When the inevitable questions about the death rumours came up, Trump shook his head and claimed he was 'very active this weekend'.

He said: "I have heard it’s sort of crazy, but last week, I did numerous news conferences, all successful.

"They went very well, like this is going very well. And then I didn’t do any for two days, and they said 'there must be something wrong with him'."

Honigman said that Trump kept a 'presidential' facial expression on this topic, picking out an 'unsmiling face trying to appear serious' with his 'head slightly tilted to the side to signify that he's listening'.

She added that Trump tried to keep 'direct eye contact with the journalist which is meant to make him appear sincere and unafraid' about the discussion on whether or not he had died.

Despite this apparent show of seriousness, the body language expert said there was one response which gave away more detail.

Trump's look to the side was 'almost imperceptible', but the body language expert says it shows he's feeling 'vulnerable' over the rumours (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trump's 'almost imperceptible response' to the death rumours

"There is a tiny, almost imperceptible response from the president if you look carefully," Honigman said of the little giveaway which apparently tells us more about how Trump was feeling.

"When he hears of the rumour, he breaks eye contact with the journalist momentarily, and glances sideways. It is quick, but it is there."

The expert explained that him averting his eyes is a 'tiny protective gesture' since eye contact can make someone feel vulnerable, and that looking to the side 'shows that his mind is active' which could be taken as a sign of him thinking what to say.

Further, she added that his glance allowed Trump 'to see if anyone is being disrespectful about him or about the topic' which Honigman explained showed he was 'feeling sensitive about what was just said'.

Honigman said: "This miniature reaction tells us all we need to know. Trump feels vulnerable in that moment. He doesn't find the death rumours funny at all, even if he makes light of them later on."

LADbible has contacted the White House for comment.