President Trump displayed “confidence” as he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, according to a body language expert.
“As Trump stands waiting, he’s smiling—a sign he’s comfortable and looking forward to the event,” Patty Ann Wood told Newsweek. “It’s his natural smile, small and slightly downturned at the corners. His shoulders are back more than usual … his posture is unusually erect. This all suggests confidence.”
Trump and Putin shake hands before the high-stakes summit in Alaska on Friday, August 15, 2025.AFP via Getty Images
Putin and Trump greet one another on the tarmac in Anchorage, Alaska, ahead of the summit.AFP via Getty Images
Another expert, Judi James, told the Daily Mail that the US president greeted Putin “like a chat show host who has landed an A-list guest” — but tried to set a different tone when the two men sat down.