An unexpected blow caught the POTUS off guard, but was his composed demeanor genuine? A behavioral expert weighs in on the debate.
A body language expert has analyzed Donald Trump’s reaction after he was struck in the face by a reporter’s mic, revealing key emotional responses from the moment.
Speaking to Tyla on behalf of Prime Casino, Darren Stanton examined Trump’s facial expressions and body language immediately after the incident.
According to Stanton, the U.S. President’s initial response included “the tightening of his eyebrows” and “the hardening of his eyes,” which he said are signs of “someone trying to hold back their rage.”
“Trump displayed a combination of anger, shock and disbelief,” Stanton explained. “It flashed across his face for just a second. He was about to draw breath but then bit his lip, almost biting back the rage. It appeared to be an instinctive reaction coming from a place of anger.”
The expert further noted, “The biting of the lip is a clear sign of someone trying to hold back their rage but then his response shows that he didn’t hold it back massively well. He is a very proud man and it made him look a bit silly.”
Stanton also pointed out that Trump’s shift in facial expression signaled a loss of composure. “You can also see the tightening of his eyebrows and the hardening of his eyes,” he concluded. “This shows he was thrown off his train of thought and that the disruption made him very angry.”
The body language expert’s analysis stems from a brief but widely discussed moment during a press conference at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 15, 2025.
As Trump addressed reporters before departing Washington, D.C., a boom microphone unexpectedly swung into his face, momentarily disrupting his remarks. The incident quickly went viral, with many debating his composed reaction.
Trump had just delivered a speech at the Department of Justice, during which he criticized the media. Despite this, he appeared to be in good spirits while taking questions from reporters, including one about the situation in the Middle East.
Suddenly, a reporter’s boom microphone — designed to capture audio while people move — made direct contact with Trump’s mouth.
Reacting quickly, Trump closed his eyes and leaned away to avoid further impact. However, he soon laughed off the incident as the microphone was moved back.
He joked about the mic operator’s newfound attention, saying, “She just made television tonight. She just became a big story tonight.” Unable to contain his laughter, he asked, “Did you see that?”
The video of the incident, posted by the Daily Mail on Instagram, drew a range of reactions from viewers. Some found humor in Trump’s reaction, while others criticized the mic operator’s actions.
On Instagram, one person wrote, “That side eye means you’re finished… that’s the last well hear from her [sic].” Another commented, “That look 😂😂😂 #yourefired.” Yet another netizen divulged, “He didn’t like that.”
Others expressed concern, with one pointing out, “She did it intentionally. She doesn’t know what respect is.” Another added, “It’s so disrespectful to the President. He could have fired her on the spot and he didn’t.” A different commenter stated, “Omg.”
People on Facebook also shared their thoughts on the moment. One person commented, “Somebody’s getting fired.” Another wrote, “Ooo the evil side eye [sic],” while someone else observed, “Look at her angrily [sic].”
As the incident quickly gained attention online, discussions have continued about whether it was an accident or a deliberate act. Despite the momentary surprise, Donald Trump handled the situation with humor before continuing on his way.
Just weeks earlier, another moment involving Trump sparked online debate — this time, a handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron. After their meeting, Macron shared details about his visit, prompting netizens to weigh in on the interaction.
Video footage showed Macron, looking dapper in a sharp suit and dark tie, stepping out of a black vehicle and being immediately greeted by the U.S. President. Trump, dressed in a dark blue suit and light blue tie, extended his hand for a firm handshake with Macron.
As the two men’s hands were in an iron grip, each of them placed one of their arms on the other as they exchanged some words.
The duo were locked in a handshake for quite some time, looking on and posing for cameras, before Trump eventually loosened his grip and Macron’s hand fell to his side.
At the end of the video, a reporter was heard asking Trump if he had any words to share for Pope Francis who remains hospitalized.
Although Trump responded, his words were inaudible. Even USA Today noted how extensive the pair’s handshake was. In their caption, they wrote, “Donald Trump welcomed France’s President Emmanuel Macron to the White House with a very long handshake.”
The handshake did not go unnoticed by netizens either. “Powerful,” declared an Instagrammer, while a person on X echoed a similar sentiment, “It’s epic.”
On the other hand, someone else observed, “Looks like Macron had a seriously intense handshake with Trump. Wishing for more gentle connections in the future; perhaps a wave will do!” “It has become a sport,” added a spectator.
Similarly, another person highlighted, “This was not a handshake. It was a wrestling match,” while a fellow observer remarked, “Lmao, that handshake was something else! 😬 It’s like they were trying to out-grip each other.”
Speaking to Fox News about his decision to meet with Trump, Macron explained, “Because of the ongoing negotiation between the US and Russia. Because of all the discussions we had amongst Europeans.”
He continued, “I wanted to come here, first to convey a message of friendship and the importance of the history in the relationship between France and the US.”
Alongside Fox News’ Instagram video post of their interview with Macron, they captioned, “French President Emmanuel Macron discusses his meeting with President Trump and Russia-Ukraine peace talks in an interview with @bretbaier on ‘Special Report.'”
The news outlet also shared a snippet of Macron and Trump’s meeting. They posted footage highlighting a lighthearted moment between the two presidents, with Trump sharing a humorous story about when he, Macron, and their two wives met for dinner at the Eiffel Tower.
“We came out and he started speaking the French deal and we didn’t have an interpreter and he was going on and on and on and I was just nodding yes, yes, yes, and he really sold me out, because I got back the next day […] I read the papers and I said, ‘That’s not what we said,'” divulged Trump.
After recounting the story, the two presidents engaged in a playful fight, lightly tapping each other and then shaking hands as the reporters laughed. “He’s a smart customer, I will tell you that,” quipped Trump.
“President Trump cracks a joke with French President Emmanuel Macron, referencing their different interpretations of a previous meeting in French and English,” captioned Fox News.
Trump’s playful banter and comedic story during his and Macron’s widely discussed meeting juxtaposes a more serious decision the U.S. President’s administration decided to make not too long ago.
Earlier in February, the White House denied access to an Associated Press (AP) reporter for an event in the Oval Office on a Tuesday afternoon after the news organization did not change its terminology regarding the Gulf of Mexico.
President Trump had reportedly ordered that the body of water be renamed the “Gulf of America,” and the AP was asked to reflect this change in its reporting.
The unnamed AP reporter was prevented from entering the White House event as they normally would. Later that same day, a second AP journalist was also barred from attending another event held in the Diplomatic Reception Room. The AP did not disclose the identity of the reporters involved.
