ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - AUGUST 15: (RUSSIA OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet for their summit on the war in Ukraine, at U.S. Air Base on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. Putin is having a one-day trip to Alaska. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
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A TOP body language expert has revealed how Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump tried to out macho each other during their meeting in Alaska.

The US President greeted his Russian counterpart on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Air Base on Friday.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - AUGUST 15: (RUSSIA OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet for their summit on the war in Ukraine, at U.S. Air Base on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. Putin is having a one-day trip to Alaska. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

The US President greeted Putin with a warm handshake
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - AUGUST 15: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate Crop) U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The pair looked relaxed and pleased to see each other
Presidents Putin and Trump at a summit in Alaska.

A press call turned to chaos when Putin suggested he couldn’t hear the journalist’s questionCredit: Reuters
Collage of Trump and Putin's body language at their summit, highlighting genuine smiles, tough looks, reverse steeple, and power gestures.

The pair went on to address the world in a brief press conference and negotiate with their teams in private.

Putin looked relaxed as he walked down a red carpet towards Trump – giving the US leader a thumbs-up before greeting him with a warm handshake.

Both of them then shared a moment alone in Trump’s presidential limo – known as The Beast – before posing for journalists during a chaotic photocall.

Their public interactions were watched and poured over with fine tooth comb – not just to find out the diplomatic outcome of their historic meeting, but also to dissect the two men’s relationship.

A top body language expert told The Sun that Trump and Putin tried to display their egos in a “frenzy” moment to perceive themselves as the two most powerful men on earth. 

Darren Stanton, known as the Human Lie Detector, said Putin and Trump were matching each other’s “power gestures” in a show of force to convey confidence and authority. 

There were also subtle signs showing Trump was trying to look stronger than Vlad.

Mr Stanton said: “Both men displayed what we call the reverse steeple gesture, which is used to convey power and authority.”

The “reverse steeple” is the distinctive triangular hand gesture

“Both Putin and Trump are Alpha males and fully aware of what these gestures mean.  Both men are trying to convey confidence, being self-assured. 

As Putin & Trump meet, The Sun goes inside raging battle for key Ukraine city…& the tactics that could decide war’s fate

“They used the signs to express, ‘I will not be pushed around. I am the most dominant person here’.

“Both Putin and Trump match and mirror each other’s gestures and behaviours. Putin is the only politician that Trump does not employ his full arsenal of trying to undermine, intimidate and make them look weak. He always meets Putin on mutual ground. 

“But there were signs that Trump was trying to look stronger and also trying to be subtle.” 

He added that Trump’s hero welcome of Putin will likely rattle America’s European allies and Zelensky. 

Mr Stanton added: “Zelensky will not be happy about the way Trump welcomed Putin.

“The fact that Trump pulled all the stops and gave him a grand welcome.” 

The expert said Trump showed a mutual respect for Putin, and both leaders had a genuine smile on their faces despite all the side issues. 

This was seen when the US leader lightly applauded his Russian counterpart as he approached him on the tarmac.

And later when he “gently patted” his hand – a symbolic gesture of familiarity and friendliness.

Trump also broke from his usual approach as the pair shook hands, opting to have his hand under Putin’s.

But then he took control – patting Putin on the back in a display of dominance.

Trump and Putin shaking hands at a press conference.

The pair appeared to try and out macho each otherCredit: Getty
Vladimir Putin sitting at a table.

Putin appeared shocked during the press call
Illustration comparing Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's height, weight, age, net worth, time in power, and previous professions.

Body language expert Patty Ann Wood told Newsweek: “Trump typically likes to have his hand on top, but here it appears he presented his palm up—a weaker, more subordinate position—indicating he sees Putin as more powerful.”

While Trump showed initial deference to the Russian leader, he followed up the handshake with a pat on Putin’s back.

Ms Wood said this is a subtle “sign of dominance” and it symbolically says “I could strike you if I wanted to.”

When the pair sat down for questions from journalists, pleasantries turned to chaos as the press pool began throwing tough questions at Putin.

One of the journalists asked: “How can the US trust your word? Will you stop killing?”

Smirking Putin then appeared to shout over the journalists before the camera was forced to cut away.

He appeared baffled as journalists quizzed him over the slaughter in Ukraine.

At one stage, he pointed to his ear to indicate he couldn’t hear.

But body language expert Dr. Beth Dawson said this was actually a sign of the leader not wanting to answer the difficult question.

She told the NY Post: “He’s looking down, his mouth is turned down …  It doesn’t look like a genuine, ‘Okay, what are you saying? I can’t hear you. Could you repeat it, please?’.”

The world now awaits what will happen next – with Ukraine’s Zelensky due to visit the White House on Monday.

Presidents Putin and Trump at a peace talk.

Putin and Trump were all smiles as they met in Alaska
Presidents Trump and Putin in a car.

Trump and Putin share a laugh in the car ahead of a high-stakes summit in Alaska
Illustration of map showing Russia-occupied territory in Ukraine.
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