Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Trump and Xi’s Body Language Reveals Dominance and Approval
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met during a highly staged visit.
They shook hands several times and toured the White House together.
Experts watched their movements to understand how each leader felt.
Xi appeared calm, formal and comfortable.
Trump appeared to show confidence by patting Xi’s arm.
Xi then patted Trump’s back, which some experts saw as a way to make the interaction more equal.
Trump also seemed happy when Xi approved of a military presentation.
At the state dinner, both leaders leaned and turned toward each other, suggesting friendliness during the event.
Donald Trump personally welcomed Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews, a gesture experts described as symbolizing the visit’s importance.
Body-language experts said Xi appeared comfortable, formal and composed during the leaders’ encounters.
Trump patted Xi’s upper arm, while Xi responded by patting Trump’s back, which some interpreted as balancing the interaction.
Trump asked Xi whether he enjoyed a military presentation and appeared pleased when Xi gave a thumbs-up and praised it.
At the state dinner, both leaders oriented toward one another, which an expert described as body language showing rapport and engagement.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and their spouses, Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan.
- What
- Trump and Xi held a formal meeting featuring handshakes, a White House tour, a military presentation and a state dinner.
- When
- Thursday, September 24.
- Where
- Joint Base Andrews and the White House in Washington, D.C.
- Why
- The meeting took place as the United States and China faced disagreements including Taiwan and artificial intelligence; the ceremony suggested an effort to present their rivalry in a friendlier way.
Approval-Seeking Reading
Dominance-Assertion Reading
Trump’s interaction with Xi
Approval-Seeking Reading
Trump’s question about whether Xi enjoyed the military presentation, followed by his apparent pleasure at Xi’s praise, was interpreted as seeking approval.
Dominance-Assertion Reading
Trump’s direct handshake, arm pat and prominent role in welcoming and hosting Xi were interpreted as efforts to assert authority.
The leaders’ physical contact
Approval-Seeking Reading
Trump’s softened head position, attentiveness and orientation toward Xi were seen as signs of warmth and respect.
Dominance-Assertion Reading
Trump’s upper-arm pat was interpreted as a gesture suggesting superiority, while Xi’s back pat was seen as neutralizing that attempt at dominance.
Meaning of the meeting
Approval-Seeking Reading
Their mutual leaning and orientation at the state dinner were interpreted as signs of rapport and connection.
Dominance-Assertion Reading
The formal gestures and pageantry could also be viewed as carefully managed diplomacy rather than proof that their underlying disagreements had ended.
- Main leaders
- Donald Trump and Xi Jinping
- Initial greeting
- Trump welcomed Xi at Joint Base Andrews
- Notable gesture
- Trump patted Xi’s upper arm; Xi later patted Trump’s back
- Military presentation
- Trump asked whether Xi enjoyed the display, and Xi responded with a thumbs-up
- State dinner
- Experts observed both leaders turning and leaning toward one another
- Key disagreements
- Taiwan and artificial intelligence
- Body-language assessment
- Experts described Xi as formal and comfortable, while interpreting Trump as both dominant and approval-seeking