Donald Trump sported a "painful" and "rigid" smile, seemingly masking "quite high levels of fear or concern" as the jury began deliberations in his hush money trial, according to a body language expert.
The ex-US president is up against 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, with each charge carrying a potential four-year prison term. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and entered a plea of not guilty.
It's now up to a group of jurors to weigh up his fate as deliberations kicked off following Tuesday's intense closing arguments where Trump's defense attorney, Todd Blanche, called star witness Michael Cohen "the greatest liar of all time" and pushed for a swift acquittal of his client. Fresh images of Trump in court surfaced on Wednesday, with body language specialist Judi James noting that the strain of both the trial and his campaign efforts for the forthcoming US election "might be taking its toll" on his energy levels.
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Donald Trump now faces an anxious wait while jurors deliberate (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Speaking to The Mirror, body language expert Judi James noted: "The yellow of the tie is usually seen as a signal of optimism and creativity although Trump's facial expression and muscle response suggests the trial and campaigning combined might be taking its toll on his energy levels. His hands are folded in a way to suggest inner calm and poise which is hardly Trump's style."
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Ms James remarked: "His jaw and his mouth muscles look slack and rather loose and although his brows are up his eye expression suggests tiredness here." She also pointed out that Trump's smile seems "almost painful, more like a wince than a smile" and appears "rigid" as the case progresses.
Trump awaiting the start of proceedings on Wednesday (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)She continued: "His smile is a rictus that seems to require a lot of effort to perform and the way he raises his cheeks and bares his teeth looks almost painful, more like a wince than a smile. If he has to force a smile this rigid and incongruent the suggestion is performed bravado that might actually conceal quite high levels of fear or concern. The fist in the air comes with a frown and a mouth clamp to suggest resolve and potential victory although his expression as he performs it looks grim."
Meanwhile, Trump's former lawyer has stated there is "zero" chance that he will be acquitted and avoid jail in his trial. Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb, who represented Trump during the Mueller investigation, told The Daily Beast that the likelihood of an acquittal is "zero to none" while the chances of a hung jury are "real" but "not likely".
Trump raises his fist as he arrives to court (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Donald Trump's legal team might see some changes as doubts about lawyer Blanche's future involvement have surfaced. Last year, Cobb critiqued Trump's defense in the federal case accusing him of mishandling classified documents post-presidency and refusing their return.
Trump fiercely responded on Truth Social, slamming Cobb: "Ty Cobb is a disgruntled former Lawyer, who represented me long ago, and knows absolutely nothing about the Boxes Hoax being perpetrated upon me. His words are angry, nasty, and libelous, only because I did not continue using him (and paying him), and for good reason."
Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 29 (Getty Images)In another twist, legal expert Gregory Germain from Syracuse University speculated on Trump's trial outcomes to The Mirror, stating: "I think the DA and the Judge are fully invested in obtaining a conviction. I think the judge will gloss over the legal issues in the jury instructions to allow a conviction by defining the legal issue around the propriety of paying hush money rather than the legality of paying hush money and how that relates to the document's charges."
"I doubt that there are any Trump supporters on the jury, and I think they are likely very offended by Trump's conduct in and out of court, and with the unethical behavior. So, even though only one juror is necessary for Trump to obtain a mistrial, and even though it's a very flawed case, I predict that the jury will convict him."
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