Donald Trump seemed "physically exhausted" in court as he huffed and puffed in "irritation" during his hush money criminal trial, according to a body language expert.
The controversial Republican sat in a Manhattan courtroom as three witnesses took to the stand to speak about their part in his alleged payments to cover up extramarital affairs before the 2016 election. On Tuesday he was found in contempt of court for nine counts of violating a gag order and fined $9,000 (£7,100) with more claims of violations set to be brought before Judge Merchan.
Trump sat in court on Tuesday as banker Gary Farro gave his testimony. Looking at Trump during court, body language expert Judi James noted a shift from the former President's typically assertive presence to one that suggests fatigue or annoyance.
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Donald Trump seems to be seeing the criminal trial as 'martyrdom', Judi James said (Getty Images)Trump's sagging posture and subdued facial expressions seemed to signal weariness or surrender, while actions such as puffing out his cheeks are interpreted as signs of stress or irritation, the expert pointed out. Judi told The Mirror: "Trump's body language has undergone a sea-change here though, with several of his expressions and his posture suggesting either emotional or physical exhaustion with the whole process of what he seems to see as martyrdom."
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She continued: "His shoulders are slumped and his mouth is either held closed in a downturned clamp that is in complete contrast to his normally ebullient expressions, or he is seen puffing out ballooned cheeks of air, which can be a way of releasing stress or signaling irritation or impatience."
He was seen with his mouth closed in a downturned clamp, indicating stress and irritation, Judi James said (Getty Images)The former president and presumptive Republican nominee is required to be in court when it is in session, four days a week. He appeared visibly disengaged during today's proceedings, often seen leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, per CNN.
Reporters also noted that he was whispering and passing notes with his lawyer during witness testimonies. Despite his apparent detachment, Trump managed a brief moment of defiance, giving a little fist pump to onlooking supporters as he exited the courtroom during a break, a gesture shortly followed by a shift in his demeanor as he exited the courtroom.
He was seen drifting off during the trial many times before (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)"At first he was glowering, but then his expression changed suddenly, almost as if he was trying to show the crowd that he had shaken off the judge's gag-order ruling," the New York Times reported. Trump had also seemed to nod off during his trial previously.
As evidenced on April 16, Maggie Haberman, a New York Times reporter who was in the courtroom, observed: "Trump appears to be sleeping. His head keeps dropping down and his mouth goes slack."
She noted that he "appeared to nod off a few times" and declared each instance as dramatic - with his head drooping and his mouth noticeably slacking. Haberman wrote that she spotted Trump's main defence lawyer, Todd Blanche, giving him notes "for several minutes" before he "appeared to jolt awake and notice them."
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