04 April 2023 , 22:07
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Donald Trump appeared in court today and wasn't his usual self, according to a body language expert.
The former president was in court today to face arraignment for 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
The charges are in connection to a hush-money scheme during the 2016 elections. Mr Trump denies all the charges against him
Today's events were a historical first as he became the first-ever former president to face criminal charges.
Body language expert Judi James claims that Mr Trump's demeanour in the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse looked like a man who is normally in control of his surroundings, suddenly faced with the opposite situation.
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Judi said: "In custody, in a courtroom, Trump showed what it looks like when you take a man who is normally in control of everything he sees and momentarily strip him of his power and his status.
'He walked in solemnly,' Judi said - while a court official foyer failed to hold the door for him (JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)"Even the official who led him into the courtroom foyer failed to hold the door for him, forcing the ex-president to pause and push at it himself."
Mr Trump was seen waving at protesters briefly as he arrived in a motorcade outside the court building, but did not appear to say anything once he was inside.
Ahead of his arrest, Trump said on his social media site Truth Social: "Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!"
Judi said the president was more used to being in control of his surroundings (Seth Wenig/AP/REX/Shutterstock)The social media post appeared to be different to Trump's courthouse behaviour.
Judi explained: "He walked in solemnly and what looked like angrily, his jacket open and his mouth clamped and pulled down at the corners."
Judge Merchan ruled that TV cameras would not be allowed in the courtroom, but photographs of Trump inside were released.
Judi added: "In the courtroom there was none of his usual alpha splaying and power signalling, although he still seemed to have the ability to make for an intimidating-looking presence.
"Sitting low and slumped in his seat with the corners of his mouth drooping into his jowls he was a heavy, brooding, unhappy figure, isolated from his legal team who appeared from the photos that emerged to prefer chatting to each other or making notes to turning to chat to Trump."