Chances are over the last two and a half years that we’ve been subjected to the fuckery that is Donald Trump, you’ve noticed that the man stands in a really painfully awkward way — and we may have discovered why.
Of course, before we get into all the technical details, it’s important that you understand — for being such a pompous, arrogant prick, Donald Trump is actually an insecure, shrinking little man deep down. He’s self-conscious about everything from the size of his hands to the swoop of his hair, to the size of what’s in his pants.
He wants to be the manliest man that ever did man in the history of men and he simply cannot tolerate anything that reflects otherwise.
The man is truly so vain and self-absorbed that he’s gone so far as to complain about the quality of your standard hairsprays these days during a 2016 rally and even allegedly demanded that he be cut out of a cashmere sweater that most likely cost more than my rent, after a Vanity Fair photoshoot, so as not to disturb the perfect swoop of his cotton candy-esque hair.
The man is a weirdo, folks.
And now we get to the part about the painfully awkward posture.
You’ll notice in many a photograph that Trump can often be seen leaning forward in what appears to be a seriously unpleasant pose — reminiscent of a creepy Tin Man that hasn’t yet been properly oiled up.
Look at Trump’s posture while he listens to Sarah Sanders speak. Who stands like this? pic.twitter.com/W4bz4Mvqwa
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2019
Of course, Twitter users everywhere had lots to say about Trump’s unnatural stance:
why does this weirdo stand like this pic.twitter.com/m69kHmteEC
— unlicensed professional (@KrangTNelson) April 26, 2019
If you take away the drape of the suit jacket, that’s someone in heels. He’s wearing lifts, I bet
— Joshua Waller (@heywaller) April 26, 2019
All that KFC fry grease he drinks has his balance all off.
— The Mayor of Sexy Town🌹 (@Giza_Butler) April 26, 2019
Because he carries 100 lbs worth of Big Macs in his giant tittys?
— Robert Ashley (@robertashley) April 26, 2019
Trump is really two small boys on top of each other in a suit.
— Edmund Muskie (@Ibogate) April 26, 2019
Because literally everything he does is driven by his obsession with how he appears to other people. This angle gives away the game, but I guarantee he’s been told it makes him look taller, thinner, stronger, etc. by someone.
— Geoff Silver (@GeoffSilver) April 26, 2019
Gravity. The more dense the object, the more it’s effected.
There’s arguably no more dense of an object than @realDonaldTrump.
Don’t @ me, it’s science. 👍🏼
— 🔥 Lucky Dog Hot Sauce 🔥 (@luckydoghot) April 26, 2019
It’s safe to say that many Twitter users had plenty of hilarious theories. But body language expert Dr. Jack Brown put together an interesting thread for our reading pleasure that explains why Trump always looks so damn awkward:
Body Language Analysis No. 4382: Why is Donald Trump Leaning Forward? – #Nonverbal #EmotionalIntelligence #BodyLanguage #BodyLanguageExpert #DonaldTrump #LeaningForward #StandingFunny #StandingOddly #PersonalSpace #TrumpsHeight pic.twitter.com/Rvh57yahaK
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
1/ In the past several days, it’s been reported that Donald Trump has been “standing weird”. Although the President’s leaning-forward posture has been displayed in the past, recently this stance has been used more consistently. Why? What are the body language ramifications?
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
2/ Donald Trump is standing with this posture – primarily because he has specially crafted, ‘lift shoes’. His added 2.0 – 3.0 inch heel-height causes him to lean forward. This configuration is accentuated by his obesity.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
3/ Trump is quite self-conscious about his height. President Trump’s claimed height is 6’3″ – yet, this is demonstrably false.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
4/ In the above photo, taken on the morning of his inauguration, Trump is clearly approximately 0.5 inch shorter than President Obama (Obama’s feet are further apart, which effectively lowers his height a bit, relative to Trump). pic.twitter.com/694N8jT1CN
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
5/ It’s notable that Ronny Jackson, M.D. – Trump’s White House physician for the first 15 months of his administration – also served the same role for Barack Obama. President Obama’s height, per Jackson’s medical reports, was listed at 6’1″.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
6/ Both Trump and Obama have been routinely photographed standing next to many athletes – thus, we can use these others’ registered height’s as cross-checks.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
7/ Here’s an image of Trump standing next to Tiger Woods (presumably, both men are wearing golf shoes). Woods’ reported height is 6’1″. pic.twitter.com/p57tWu5sPe
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
8/ Here’s another photo Donald Trump leaning forward during a political rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin on 27 April 2019. pic.twitter.com/SwsMsdXbZE
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
9/ Trump was leaning forward in this same style while greeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to the White House on 11 October 2017. pic.twitter.com/aqKCOzUZg6
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
10/ SUMMARY: Donald Trump’s forward-leaning posture is caused by his use of lift-shoes. This odd stature is further exacerbated by his obesity.
continued
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
11/ Such forward-leaning posture has the secondary body language effect of encroaching into others’ personal space (intimate space) during greetings and other interactions.
continued
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
12/ In addition to him being physically closer, we also feel emotionally uncomfortable whenever we think something/someone may fall over onto us.
continued
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
13/ This narcissistic stance amplifies any similar nonverbal behavior already present – e.g., pulling/yanking-style handshakes, the false intimacy of patting others’ shoulders, touching others’ backs/falsely guiding, feigned embracing, etc.
continued
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
14/ Thus, while Donald Trump uses shoe lifts because he feels self-conscious about his height, they have the secondary body language effect of physical intimidation.
END
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) April 29, 2019
Dr. Jack, you’re the real MVP.
Featured image via Twitter
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