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A Viewer's Guide to Donald Trump (an impressionist's analysis - very interesting)
The Lean
This was the first and most important physical trait I perfected in playing Mr. Trump. He pitches forward on the balls of his feet, his hands curled and locked at his waist. It is his most relaxed standing position. If you place him in a church with a choir, his lean turns into something resembling swaying — he’ll move back and forth to the music with marionette arms lifelessly swinging somewhat like pig carcasses in a meat freezer. The most likely time to see the Trump Lean™ is right before he’s announced into the chamber, or before he turns to stand at the lectern.
The Lectern Turn
Donald Trump doesn’t like to turn his head. Instead, he turns his entire upper body and shoulders, leaning his head forward like a pigeon eyeing stale bread crust. He obviously wants to stabilize himself at the lectern for fear of falling over, and his rigid upper body is like that of a litigious courtroom charlatan strapped in a neck brace checking to see if people believe him.
The Teleprompter Shrug
President Trump reads from a teleprompter in the cadence of a grandmother reading “Goodnight Moon.” He rarely seems familiar with the material. If he likes a line or idea in the speech, he’ll take a moment to repeat it and savor it — it’s as if he’s hearing it for the first time, because it’s the first time he’s reading it.
Hand Signals
Like Bugs Bunny conducting an orchestra, Mr. Trump conducts many of his statements too. The open palm is a plea to his audience to connect with his plight. The O.K. symbol is reserved for telling specific lies. The thumbs-up-moving-into-a-flat-palm is used to cover dead space — either during cheering or when he’s interrupted by protesters.
This was the first and most important physical trait I perfected in playing Mr. Trump. He pitches forward on the balls of his feet, his hands curled and locked at his waist. It is his most relaxed standing position. If you place him in a church with a choir, his lean turns into something resembling swaying — he’ll move back and forth to the music with marionette arms lifelessly swinging somewhat like pig carcasses in a meat freezer. The most likely time to see the Trump Lean™ is right before he’s announced into the chamber, or before he turns to stand at the lectern.
The Lectern Turn
Donald Trump doesn’t like to turn his head. Instead, he turns his entire upper body and shoulders, leaning his head forward like a pigeon eyeing stale bread crust. He obviously wants to stabilize himself at the lectern for fear of falling over, and his rigid upper body is like that of a litigious courtroom charlatan strapped in a neck brace checking to see if people believe him.
The Teleprompter Shrug
President Trump reads from a teleprompter in the cadence of a grandmother reading “Goodnight Moon.” He rarely seems familiar with the material. If he likes a line or idea in the speech, he’ll take a moment to repeat it and savor it — it’s as if he’s hearing it for the first time, because it’s the first time he’s reading it.
Hand Signals
Like Bugs Bunny conducting an orchestra, Mr. Trump conducts many of his statements too. The open palm is a plea to his audience to connect with his plight. The O.K. symbol is reserved for telling specific lies. The thumbs-up-moving-into-a-flat-palm is used to cover dead space — either during cheering or when he’s interrupted by protesters.
The rest here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/opinion/sotu-viewers-guide-trump.html
I didn't watch the SOTU because seeing and hearing Trump makes me want to hurl, but it might be worth it to watch a video of it with this commentary in mind.
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