Joe Biden’s appearance at the inauguration suggested he felt awkward while his smile seemed forced, a body language expert has revealed.
The ex-President and First Lady turned out for Monday’s ceremony as per the tradition of previous serving leaders to attend the ceremony. Former Vice President and Donald Trump’s 2024 rival Kamala Harris meanwhile prompted a particularly awkward moment which left Biden in the lurch.
Judi James, an expert in reading body language in high profile figures, explained that Biden’s smile during Monday’s event had all the hallmarks of someone putting on a show, despite their obvious discomfort. The inauguration saw Trump, a convicted felon, sworn in as the 47th President, giving a lengthy address inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Among those attending were Bill and Hilary Clinton, George and Laura Bush and Barack Obama, who was not accompanied by wife Michelle. Also in attendance was a host of business executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook and media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, as well as ardent Trump supporter Elon Musk.
“There is an unmistakable air of ongoing awkwardness in their formal pose for the cameras, despite the fixed, rictus smiles,” said Judi, speaking about Biden’s appearance on behalf of Paddy Power. “While Joe, Kamala, and her husband cluster together to suggest unity, Jill creates a noticeable social gap between herself and the others – a gesture that hints at partial dissociation.
“When Joe extends his hand to Jill to lead her into the White House, she leans subtly back, her arms remaining firmly by her sides as if rejecting the gesture. Behind Joe’s back, her facial expression briefly drops, offering a fleeting glimpse of tension.
“Joe, keen to display cheerful good spirits, quickly adjusts. When his wife declines to hold his hand, he shifts his focus to Kamala. But as he attempts to hold hers, she takes her husband’s hand instead, leaving Joe to retreat and walk alongside Jill once more. It’s a moment that seems to suggest he’s searching for support, but no such reassurance appears to be forthcoming.”
Judi added that Trump’s unyielding and – in parts – vindictive speech appeared to take its toll on 82-year-old Biden and Harris, who appeared visibly strained as he wore on. She remarked: “Trump’s words were strong and, at times, excoriating. For Biden and Harris, seated to his left, they must have felt like dragon’s breath as he attacked their administration on every front.
“They were blamed for everything – from the mishandling of emergencies like the LA fires to being part of what he called a ‘radical, corrupt establishment’.” She added: “At one point, he tried to mask a grin behind his hand. As the speech progressed, Biden’s frustration began to surface. His fingers meshed in a tight clasp, his white knuckles betraying anger.”
Biden meanwhile drew heat from both sides in the final moments of his Presidency, as he issued last minute pardons to members of his family, as well as members of the January 6 attack investigative committee, former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney and others. It followed him issuing a “full and unconditional” pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, last month.
Mr Trump marked his first day in office by signing a flurry of executive orders, making sweeping changes to the economy, immigration and climate change policies. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer looks set to travel to the White House within weeks after congratulating Trump. Prime ministers have historically not attended the inauguration of a new president, but have sought to be early visitors to the White House.
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