Trump shows 'diminished desire to fight' as lawsuits pile up as he's spotted
Former US president Donald Trump was spotted heading to Trump Tower in New York City yesterday, but his appearance and posture showed a "slimmer, sadder-looking version", according to a body language expert.
Trump was spotted heading to Trump Tower after spending the day at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey on Monday, September 4, where he had welcomed members of the Bikers for Trump group. The 77-year-old spent Labor Day with the devoted fans, praising them on social media before heading back to the city.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, he said: "A very large group of 'Bikers for Trump' just left Bedminster. What a great time we all had. The motorcycles were AMAZING, the love and enthusiasm absolutely 'beyond'. Thank you all. We must WIN in 2024. MAGA.!"
But, the figure he cut as he made his way to his New York City residence was a far cry from the defiant, "peacocking" Trump we've seen previously. With multiple active legal cases against the former president, including one in New York, he appears to be showing a "diminished desire to fight" according to body language expert Judi James.
Trump arrived at Trump Tower to cheers from his supporters, waving at them and applauding them as he got out of his car. He raised his fist to the sky as supporters continued cheering with one man heard shouting: "I love you Trump! Let's go!"
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decadeBody language expert Judi took a closer look at Trump's appearance before fans, and explained how we're seeing a different version of Trump here. She said: "When Trump arrived at the airport for his court appearance he looked like an actor called back from an encore.
"Peacocking with his posture, he stood tall and to attention as he thanked the invisible fans for their inaudible applause with an air of invincible confidence. Here though is a very different Donald Trump.
"Some of the gestures might look the same, but this slimmer, sadder-looking version has an air of vulnerability behind the posturing. The puffed, alpha splay has crumpled and the defiant gaze looks slightly more pleading to imply a sense of martyrdom as the trial looms."
As the former president's legal battles mount, he appeared to show less fight than he had previously, according to Judi. She explained: "His centre of gravity has dropped from the shoulders and chest to the waist and below, hinting at a diminished desire to fight.
"He performs a high, waggling wave like someone drowning and calling for help but then he re-boots and curls his hand into a fist that changes the mood music as he waves it in the air in an intentional message of bravado and victory. There is a clue of the old fight here: he holds his thumb around his fingers in this fist, in a boxer’s gesture.
"It’s his eye expression that probably says the most here though. His brows are puckered toward the middle and one is raised slightly higher than the other. Having donated that iconic mugshot scowl to history, Trump’s expression seems to have flipped from one of retribution to one of deep sadness."
The New York businessman has been indicted on 91 criminal counts in total at a time when he is also running for re-election in the 2024 presidential election. Recent developments in both his New York City cases could mean he was in Manhattan to speak to his legal team.
In the criminal case regarding hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, it emerged the Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg had been informed about a potential scheduling conflict. This case had a start date of March 24, however, the federal case of election interference has been given a March 4 start date.
In his other New York case, a civil case of fraud at the Trump Organization, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, asked the judge last week for a partial summary judgement in her $250 million case. She is looking to avoid going to trial, and claimed there was a "mountain of undisputed evidence" of false and misleading financial statements.