Yahoo Lifestyle Here's What JD Vance's Body Language Said During THAT Sermon, According To Experts
It was fascinating to watch President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and their families react to the sermon delivered by the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde at Tuesday’s interfaith service at Washington National Cathedral.
Trump initially had a blank expression as the Episcopal bishop of Washington made a direct plea to him, asking the president to have “mercy” on those “scared” about his return to the White House and the effect his policies may have on them, such as LGBTQ+ children and undocumented immigrants.
As she delved deeper into her message, Trump became slightly fidgety, looking down and across the aisle a few times. (Watch the video above to see his reaction.)
Later that night in a Truth Social post, he revealed just how much the sermon had gotten under his skin, calling Budde a “so-called Bishop” and a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.”
But it was arguably Vance who was more interesting to watch. The newly appointed vice president’s facial expressions and fidgety body language spoke volumes about how he was feeling. Like Trump, his face was open and fairly relaxed when Budde began her sermon, but a furrowed brow appeared as the talk turned political.
Vance directed not one but two “Can you believe this?” sidelong glances toward his wife, Usha Vance: one when Budde mentioned worried LGBTQ+ children across the nation and another at the mention of tax-paying migrants.
Many online took note, with some giving rather dramatic reads of the moment.
“I think the most telling thing was Vance’s face as he listened to a Christian preacher plead for mercy on behalf of the poor,” one person wrote on X, formerly called Twitter. “You could see the rage on his face that she had broken the rules of decorum.”
Others had a softer interpretation: Vance was just making a big show of looking bored, one person said.
Others noted Usha’s failure ― or perhaps refusal ― to acknowledge her husband’s incredulity. Instead of making eye contact with him, her gaze stayed focused on Budde throughout the sermon.
“Usha is the only one who felt…anything,” writer Feminista Jones posted on Threads. “Pay close attention to Vance and Usha’s body language. She is NOT comfortable with him leaning her way to try to talk.”
Still, others were quick to point out that while the second lady used to be a registered Democrat, she clerked for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“Usha cosigns everything Vance does,” one person replied to Jones.
What Do Body Language Experts Think?
Karen Donaldson, a communication and body language expert, agreed that the Vances weren’t on the same page at the cathedral, at least in this particular moment.
“Vance was trying to gain quick support and buy-in of his displeasure of what was being said when he leaned into his wife, but Usha was not reciprocating,” Donaldson said. “She did not lean in toward him. It seemed like she was not interested in what he was doing or feeling. Her gaze in Budde’s direction never broke.”
Vance tried to make similar contact with Trump during the bishop’s sermon to cut through some of the awkwardness. That’s called triangulation, explained Paul Hokemeyer, the author of “Fragile Power 2.0: Wealth, Narcissism and Mental Health” and a therapist who’s studied body language.
In conflict, Hokemeyer said that people use triangulation to bring another person into a relationship or conversation without confronting the person they have an issue with directly. (In Vance’s case, that would be Budde.)
“When there is instability in a relationship between two people, we pull in a third person to try and stabilize the discomfort we’re feeling,” the therapist told HuffPost.
“My read is that Vice President Vance wanted someone to connect with, someone kindred to help him manage the displeasure he felt at what the bishop was saying,” Hokemeyer said, adding that he admired the fact that the second lady held her gaze.
“It showed respect for [Budde] as a person who had something worthy to say, and I think it spoke to [Usha’s] ability to remain open-minded to what she was saying,” he said.
As the sermon went on, Vance’s overall demeanor conveyed, “I’m over this,” said body language expert Blanca Cobb.
“Vance’s eyes were slightly narrowed, his forehead creased, and his lips pressed together ― these are all classic signs of frustration,” Cobb said.
When Budde called on the president to show mercy to immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community, Vance looked down and began swaying the program in his hands, a subtle way to disconnect from what he was hearing.
“By making these statements, the bishop implicitly suggested that President Trump lacks mercy, which some might interpret as questioning his standing as a man of God,” Cobb said.
“This is what prompted Vance’s negative reaction. It was a response to what he likely interpreted as a direct affront to the presidency, the administration, and his own beliefs,” she added.
Traci Brown, a body language expert and the author of “How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft: Field Guide,” disagreed with the person on X who thought that Vance’s face conveyed rage or revulsion toward Budde’s remarks.
“Those feelings would show through eyebrows pointed heavily down in the middle and a crooked smile or the top lip in a sneer,” she said.
Instead, Vance is giving the preacher his attention as evidenced by a low blink rate when he’s looking at her, according to Brown.
“We see him tighten up his glabella area ― that’s the area between his eyebrows and above the nose ― when he looks down at the program,” she said. “It could be focus, or it could be anger. The corners of his lips turn slightly down. That tells of slight unhappiness.”
All that said, it’s important to remember that body language tells us what’s on someone’s mind, Brown said.
“Vance could just be bored. Petulant is one other way to describe it,” she said. “In any case, he’s not alone; few in those rows around him look much different.”
The one exception, according to Brown? First lady Melania Trump and her trademark stoic pout.
“I actually think the one most put out by the whole thing is Melania,” she said. “She has an unwavering pouty face. No interest, only disagreement ― it could be about the situation or the commentary from the preacher, but again, body language tells us what’s on someone’s mind but not why.”
