Body language expert Judi James has analysed the awkward moment President Donald Trump had to put his FIFA Peace Prize medal on himself at the World Cup draw ceremony in Washington
Body language guru Judi James has analysed the slightly uncomfortable exchange between President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as Trump was presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. The interaction was caught on camera during the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Friday. The footage shows Trump grinning at the Peace Prize, a metallic statue placed before him.
“This is your peace prize. There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go,” Infantino announced, while Trump awkwardly lifts the medal and smiles. “Right now,” Trump is heard saying into the microphone before setting it down to don his medal. “Ok, let me hold -ah, fantastic,” Infantino comments as Trump adorns himself with the medal.
James shared her insights with Mirror US, interpreting what Trump’s body language might suggest about the president in this brief clip.
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“Trump’s non-verbal purrs of pleasure would have reached a peak as his gaze was directed from the World Cup to a medal that was being delivered. The honour clearly suited him, although the method of delivery might have failed to meet his expectations,” she observed.
“Instead of the medal being ‘awarded’ by being hung around his neck in an honourable and historic ritual, as the World Cup football medals are bestowed by a dignitary after a match, there was an awkward moment here for Trump,” she added.
“Trump was directed to the medal and his comedic response of lifting it himself with a playful grin to the audience hints at a small drop of sarcasm for what might have been a solemn Presidential moment. He struggled with the medal and the mic, having to put the mic down onto the table in order to hang the medal around his own neck,” James continued.
“Despite the slightly lowering experience though, Trump’s ‘bullfrog smile’ to the audience signaled strong feelings of pride and pleasure at having at last being awarded some form of peace prize,” she said.
Trump voiced his appreciation for the honour, describing it as “one of the great honors of my life.”
Last November, Trump unveiled a fresh programme for overseas visitors travelling to the U.S. for the World Cup, called “FIFA Pass,” which provides fast-tracked visa bookings for those who’ve bought World Cup tickets via FIFA.
So when and where is the World Cup taking place?
A whopping 104 football matches are scheduled for next year’s World Cup, set to run from 11 June through to 19 July across 16 venues throughout North America.
A total of 78 games will take place at 11 NFL stadiums, including all matches from the quarterfinals onwards, with an additional 13 games each in Mexico and Canada.
The grand finale is set for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where, for the first time, a halftime show will be featured.
The event was co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, comedian Kevin Hart, and actor-producer Danny Ramirez. The draw was conducted by former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand.
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