In a high-stakes presidential debate that unfolded on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in Philadelphia, body language expert Susan Constantine offered insights into the nonverbal communication between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to Fox News, Constantine's analysis revealed a strategic approach by Harris that successfully provoked Trump, potentially influencing the overall perception of their performances.
The ABC Presidential Debate marked the first time Trump and Harris shared a debate stage, setting the scene for a closely watched political showdown. Constantine's observations suggest that Harris employed calculated tactics to unsettle her opponent, particularly by targeting known sensitive topics such as the size of Trump's rally crowds.
Constantine noted that Harris seemed well-prepared to exploit Trump's vulnerabilities. She explained, "He fell for every one of her games; they were all tactics. So when she would poke the bear, he would growl back, and she would keep poking the bear and especially when it came to, of course, the crowds."
This strategy, according to Constantine, had a visible effect on Trump's demeanor. The expert pointed out specific physical reactions that betrayed Trump's emotional state:
You could see that Trump was getting really, really upset about it. At one point, he dropped his shoulders, dropped his head, and he sunk. And then you see the upper lip [move upward] very quickly. It was a micro-expression of leakage, of hatred and disgust and scorn… he was really angry at her for saying that.
These observations suggest that Harris's approach successfully disrupted Trump's composure, potentially affecting his ability to stay on message during the debate.
Constantine's analysis highlighted stark differences in the candidates' presentation styles. While Trump maintained a more serious tone throughout the debate, Harris appeared to project a happier demeanor. However, Constantine cautioned that Harris's smiles were not always genuine, describing them as "condescending" when held for unnaturally long periods.
The expert elaborated on Harris's smile strategy:
Real smiles don't last beyond the very longest four seconds. When a person holds that smile and does it throughout, that's condescending, and what she's doing is she is also dismissing what Trump is saying and [that] is covered with the perma-smile. That is inauthentic.
Despite this critique, Constantine acknowledged Harris's overall performance positively, noting her ability to connect with viewers and her apparent preparedness for the debate format.
Constantine praised Harris for her approach to the pre-debate handshake, describing it as a confident move into Trump's space. This initial interaction set the tone for what Constantine characterized as a "boxing match" between the two candidates.
Constantine described the debate as a confrontational encounter, likening it to a boxing match. She noted the stark contrast between the participants' positions and the evident animosity from Trump's camp. In Constantine's view, Harris skillfully capitalized on this tension, while Trump inadvertently played into her strategy.
The expert's analysis suggests that Harris's debate strategy successfully threw Trump off balance, potentially giving her an edge in the public's perception of the event. Constantine observed that Trump often found himself on the defensive, responding to Harris's provocations rather than staying focused on his own message.
This dynamic, according to the expert, played into Harris's hands and may have influenced the overall outcome of the debate. While Harris faced her own challenges, particularly when questioned about abortion rights, Constantine's assessment indicates that her prepared approach and ability to unsettle her opponent were key factors in her debate performance.
