Donald Trump made a patronising move towards Joe Biden as the pair met at the White House to discuss the transition of power.
The 78-year-old is due to kickstart his second term as the 47th president of the US after scooping the majority vote against Vice President Kamala Harris last week. He met with Joe Biden at the White House's Oval Office on Wednesday, telling the US president that politics was "tough".
During the meeting, Trump employed "self-lowering behaviours" to allow Biden to temporarily look like the more dominant leader, body language expert Judi James said.
"Trump looks like a man who believes like looking gracious in victory here, using body language rituals that eschew his usual love of power and status-postering and opting instead for some self-lowering behaviors to allow Biden to temporarily at least, look like the more dominant leader."
James added: "Polite rituals like Trump's here might look flattering to Biden but it's often the case that they tend to get used when the victor feels the win has been huge enough and comprehensive enough for them to skip any signs of challenge or status- competing."
The move also signals how badly the Democrats lost in the 2024 election, with Trump no longer feeling the need to look very powerful, the expert added.
James said: "While Biden sits with his knees fully splayed and one hand atop each knee in a ritual of man-splaying dominance, avoiding eye contact with Trump as he shakes his hand, Trump sits lower in his seat, using active listening rituals like eye contact, a forward lead and nodding to look politely compliant.
"Trump also leans right across to take the hand Biden has offered in a shake, even placing one hand over his own stomach to do so, in an act of inconvenience. His smile and his words appear as warm as the fire behind them and although Biden cuts the meeting short by raising his brows at the room, Trump continues to smile, even exchanging a friendly-looking grin at the noise the press make."
At today's meeting, Biden congratulated Trump on his win, and said he was "looking forward" to a seamless transition. "However we can make sure you're accommodated, what you need, and we're going to get a chance to talk about some of that today," he said.