The visit has attracted great interest in the future of Ukrainian relations amid the ongoing Russian invasion when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
The two leaders greeted each other, posed for photos in front of the White House, and answered questions from Oval Office reporters. When the camera captures the interactions of leaders, what they say is not the only part of the story.
Body language experts say Trump’s body gestures, postures and touch reveal a complex dynamic – often making Zelenskyy stand out.
Experts say many of Trump’s gestures are a way to advocate control and dominance.
One of the most notable moments for body language experts was when Zelenskyy arrived at the White House, and Trump thrust his fist.
“It started with the fist that Trump gave him,” said writer and body language expert Traci Brown. “He intended to be in full control. He was very kind to Zelenskyy, complimenting his suit, but his hand was almost under his chin and stretched into Zelenskyy’s space. It was a sign of control.”
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According to Patti Wood, a body language and nonverbal communication expert, the fist pump is the “symbolical punching” movement and the author of “Snapshot: Make the most of the first impression, body language and charm.”
“Subconsciously, it means he feels he’s fighting and he has to defend himself,” she said. “This is an example of what is called a symbolic weapon. Because it’s the first thing he responded to this meeting, so it makes it even stronger.”
Later that day, while Zelenskyy and other world leaders, Trump signaled his fist in his 2024 assassination attempt.
In addition to the fist pump, other control grip gestures are shown. Brown pointed out Trump’s way toward him Lazelensky.
“It’s an unconscious show and Trump can move him away,” she said. “Zelenskyy swayed, but didn’t move her feet and would rather remain independent.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House at the White House and then met with European leaders to discuss ending the war with Russia on Monday, August 18, 2025. Tom Williams by Getty Images
Other experts say Trump’s touch fell into condescendence.
“Trump is manipulating the president of a country. He has mastered him and is doing these really minimizing actions with Zelenskyy,” said Denise M. Dudley, a psychologist and author of “Building the Last Relationship”.
She noted that the Ukrainian president is physically smaller than Trump, and she said she believes “a more socially mature person” will avoid taking action, emphasizing the short stature of the people they talk to.
“But Trump is just working on it,” Dudley added. “He put his hands on his shoulders. He put his arms around him in a very patronized way, as if saying, ‘You’re not on my level. I can get you in like a date I went to the prom.’ He didn’t treat him like he did.”
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Wood also saw these gestures as derogatory.
“Trump raised his arms and the arms around Zelenskyy’s back and neck and pulled him in like a dad’s way of telling the kid ‘you’re acting better’.”
The litigation interaction sends a mixed signal.
The topic of Zelenskyy’s lawsuit emerged, and it was another telling moment – a noteworthy option given the previous criticism of the Ukrainian president of conservative choices for clothing options.
Brian Glenn, who exported the Royal American voice, mocked Zelenskyy for wearing the usual military outfit instead of a formal suit during a February visit. Trump agrees.
“Trump does run into Zelenskyy when referring to the lawsuit,” Brown said. “It’s a way of connecting, and it seems that he shows Zelenskyy with pride, but when he says ‘I say the same thing, he’s just frustrated by his tone.’ Given the last time Zelenskyy appeared in a more casual outfit, Trump now has evidence that he’s under control.”
People paid special attention to the interaction of Zelenskyy’s outfits during her White House visit. Anna’s money-making man by Getty Images
Dudley also observed how Trump’s gestures reinforced the inequality stance.
“He commented on his suit, you’ll see Trump reaching out his hand, palm. It’s kind of ‘looking at you’.” “I imagined it would look good if I went to meet my dad. He might be like, ‘Oh, my dear, look at you.’ This is what you don’t do to another president: ‘Look at you.’ ”
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Nevertheless, not all Trump’s actions are neatly trapped in the control framework. Dudley noted that the former president seemed to share a rare moment with Zelenskyy after his cunning reaction to Glenn’s comments.
“I would say, it seems Trump was really laughing,” Dudley said. “I think he was actually laughing at the comments about the lawsuit. Usually, Trump is not a person who actually laughs – he is usually very focused on hosting Trump shows. But here, on Zelenskyy, he really made a laugh. I think it’s funny.”
According to communication and body language expert Karen Donaldson, other gestures are more neutral and even reconciliated.
“President Trump made the spire – in fact, his finger pointed to a low spire, which is a sign of self-assurance, self-confidence, and is comfortable in this space,” she said. “The lower the spire means thoughtfulness, the higher the spire means authority.”
She also believed that his earlier fists were more of a signal of unity than control, and that he showed a willingness to be open and honest in the way he greeted him with his palms.
Zelenskyy also said a lot of body language.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy’s body language reveals resistance and calmness in the face of Trump’s physical confidence.
“We’ve witnessed President Zelensky putting his hand on President Trump’s hand later in the handshake,” Donaldson said. “Is this a cultural norm? No. It’s a subtle way to dominate another person when someone puts his hand on the top of another person.”
Experts say that in the face of Trump’s physical confidence, Zelenskyy’s body language shows both resistance and calmness. Mandel Ngan by Getty Images
Wood observed a similar sense of backlash, noting that Zelenskyy responded to Trump’s tendency to attract people into him in the shaking of his hand.
“So, Zelenskyy took his left arm and hand and went into the so-called top-down position where he held Trump’s hand, as if saying, ‘No, I’m going to fight you.’ He kept it on and Trump continued to pull them tight, pulling them both closer to his chest.
Asked questions from the Oval Office media, both leaders also sat in chairs, Donaldson was described as a position, “signal and ready to do what is about to happen.”
Even in these tense dynamics, Zelenskyy projected a calming measure.
“President Zelenskyy’s hand clutched his hands tightly, his fingers intertwined loosely,” Donaldson said. “In terms of the background of sitting down, his fingers were loosely intertwined, which was more comfortable than discomfort. But we often insert our fingers in order to make ourselves feel safer in this situation – it’s a form of self-soothing.”
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To sum up, communication shows how much is conveyed without words. Trump’s handshake, fist pump and touch broadcast confidence and dominance often turn to humility. But a small portion of Zelenskyy’s resistance behavior (with a stable basis, controlled hand placement and posture) indicates that he is willing to stand on the ground.
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