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Why Nancy Pelosi's SOTU Body Language Was Actually Genius, According To An Expert


One of her most talked-about body language choices was to read her way through most of Trump's meandering address. She was in all likelihood reading a transcript of his speech to see if he was staying on-script (another power move). Body language expert Patti Wood, author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, called it "an obvious, clear, and sustained nonverbal message of disbelief and disregard for the president."

Wood added that this was a smart and deliberate move on the part of Pelosi. "Reading notes is a tactic that I actually have coached speakers to do to hold in their nervousness and show their disinterest during debates, because it's one of the only oddly politically correct ways of showing disrespect and disagreement," she told Refinery29.

Without saying a word, Pelosi also asserted herself as the den mother of the freshman class of Democratic women in Congress. She wore a white suit along with them, in solidarity with women's rights. And then, when Trump brought up the fact that there are more women serving in Congress than ever before, she stood up and appreciatively clapped in her colleagues' direction — signaling that despite their opposition to Trump, it was now okay for them to stand up, too, because they were celebrating themselves. "Pelosi standing and palms-up gesturing for the women to rise again and take in the applause" was a gesture Wood said caught her eye. But just as fast, Pelosi was back to displaying disapproving looks as he brought up the "catastrophe known as NAFTA." At this point, "She dramatically brought her head down in disbelief and displeasure," noted Wood.

Link to full article - https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/02/223690/nancy-pelosi-state-of-the-union-body-language-clap

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Nancy Pelosi's Body Language At the 2019 State Of The Union Said A Lot

In addition to these telling clips, there was also one moment that might have been a bit more subtle and you could have missed. Throughout Trump's entire State of the Union address, Pelosi regularly shuffled through her papers while he was speaking to the crowd. While this could just be seen as her trying to be organized, there might be more to the story, particularly since she wasn't the one giving a speech, according to body language expert Patti Wood, author of SNAP: Making The Most Of First Impressions, Body Language, And Charisma.
"Pelosi held up and read her notes near the beginning of the president's [speech] as an obvious and clear and sustained nonverbal message of disbelief and regard for the president," Wood tells Elite Daily by email. "Reading notes is a tactic that I actually have coached speakers to do [during] debates to hold in their nervousness and show their disinterest during debates because [it's] one of the only oddly politically correct ways of showing disrespect and disagreement."

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Ivanka Trump's Body Language At The 2019 State Of The Union Was So Sweet

Patti Wood, another body language expert and author of SNAP: Making The Most Of First Impressions, Body Language, And Charisma, also noted that it looked like Trump was comforting Johnson, but noted the timing of the touch could be significant. "This woman also got quite a lot of applause and Ivanka could have been reaching over to gain some of the admiration and make herself look good," she speculates via email, noting that the president had done something similar when he spoke in honor of survivors of World War II.

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Melania Trump’s Body Language At The 2019 State Of The Union Showed Some Priorities


Patti Wood, another body language expert and author of SNAP: Making The Most Of First Impressions, Body Language, And Charisma, also commented on the exchange, noting that Trump appears to be most comfortable when engaging with the children. She notes that while Trump appears to "go in and out of a mask" with her smile, her actions and expressions to Grace are genuine. She turns "to talk to [Grace] with warmth and sweetness," Wood tells Elite Daily by email.
Wood also notes that there are a few moments where Trump isn't smiling or her face looks a little tense, which she interpreted as Trump appearing as if she was "told to act nice." But in the end, she "does a very nice job interacting with real warmth to the little girl," Wood opines.

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Donald Trump's Body Language At The 2019 State Of The Union Was Pretty Telling


Patti Wood, another body language expert and author of SNAP: Making The Most Of First Impressions, Body Language, And Charisma, also commented on the exchange, noting that Trump appears to be most comfortable when engaging with the children. She notes that while Trump appears to "go in and out of a mask" with her smile, her actions and expressions to Grace are genuine. She turns "to talk to [Grace] with warmth and sweetness," Wood tells Elite Daily by email.
Wood also notes that there are a few moments where Trump isn't smiling or her face looks a little tense, which she interpreted as Trump appearing as if she was "told to act nice." But in the end, she "does a very nice job interacting with real warmth to the little girl," Wood opines.

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.