King Charles and Donald Trump showed two very different styles during their White House meeting, in a moment that was more of silence than direct competition.
According to one expert, while Trump spoke often and tried to lead the conversation, the monarch chose to remain mostly quiet and composed during his formal farewell at the White House.
Speaking to an entertainment site, body language expert Bruce Durham said this created an apparent contradiction, highlighting that the more Trump spoke, the more attention shifted towards Charles.
“Then comes the interaction where President Trump tries to regain control. Trump leads with a two-handed handshake. Now, this gesture can go either way. It can signal warmth and rapport, or it can seem overbearing or controlling,” he said.
Durhan added, “Given his known communication style, it is reasonable to interpret this as an attempt to re-establish presence in the moment.”
“But the most interesting dynamic isn’t physical – it’s verbal. There’s a well-known idea that the person who speaks first loses.
“As the press prepares to ask questions, Trump already steps in with praise and calls Charles his favorite king. The best ever!”
“Then the reporters turn to Charles. They ask one question. Then another. And he remains largely silent. That silence is important,” said the expert on Charles’ body language.
“It’s the kind that makes a lot of people uncomfortable – the kind that makes you want to fill that gap, keep talking, say something.
“And that’s exactly what happens. Trump steps back, filling the space, and makes another comment. Charles, meanwhile, remains calm and collected.
“Now, considering the context – American soil, the American media, the American president next to him – you might expect Charles to feel pressured to engage more. Instead, he does the opposite. He remains silent.”
