Donald Trump Update: What The President's Handshake And Body Language Tell Us About His Personality

Donald Trump didn’t always identify as a political leader. Before becoming president, Trump was a nationally well-known businessman who closed deals through his banter and handshake.

But in his first weeks in office, Trump has faced scrutiny over the way he gives handshakes. Most recently, he made global headlines for oddly shaking hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Last week, during a photo op in the Oval Office, Japanese media asked the two to shake hands. Trump pulled Abe’s hand closer and patted it several times. They held each other hands for 19 seconds. After the handshake, Abe had an expression on his face that some interpreted as annoyance with what had transpired.

But Lillian Glass, a body language expert and communications consultant who earned her Ph.D. in the field of communication disorders from the University of Minnesota, said despite what some on social media have speculated, the "Japanese don’t use that type of facial expression to show negativity.”

“What we perceived Western culture as an eye roll, it’s not like that in Eastern culture,” she said, reassuring that Abe “really likes him [Trump].”

She said Eastern cultures are more "passive aggressive" and not as direct as Westerners when it comes to body language. “Donald Trump was very warm to Prime Minister Abe, and Abe was warmed to Trump,” she said.

Overall, she said, there was “no problem” with the way Trump shook Abe's hands. Glass described Trump as a bold and an affectionate person. “He can be overpowering, and a lot of times people are reserved,” she said.

This isn't the first time, however, that Trump's handshake has been scrutinized. When Trump shook hands with Neil Gorsuch on the night he nominated Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, many believed that the handshake was awkward and slightly aggressive since Trump appeared to be yanking Gorsuch's hands as he shook it.

The internet also poked fun of Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when they shook hands at Tillerson's swearing-in ceremony earlier this month.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the latest world leader to face Trump’s signature handshake this week. Unlike the others, Trudeau did not allow Trump to yank him. Instead, Trudeau stepped up to Trump as the president extended his hand, and grabbed Trump’s right arms with his free left hand to maintain his balance. It was a 19 second-long handshake. When both political leaders went into the Oval Office to pose for pictures, Trump said to Trudeau, “I think they might want a handshake.” Still, Trudeau did not give Trump the opportunity to get yanked.

Because of Trump’s “warmness,” Glass said people are often taken aback by his actions. They don’t usually see such an informal handshake in diplomatic circles, she said.

“When he likes you, it shows, and when he doesn’t like you, it shows, too,” she said. “He’s very effusive in his expressions.”

Glass, who has been studying body language for three years, said everything in body language "has to do with context, what happens in the beginning, middle and end.”

“Trump is comfortable with himself. He is not following protocol. … He is just Donald Trump,” Glass said. “People should get used to that for the next four years.”