Body language expert reveals why Kamala Harris kept repeating one gesture during speech following Donald Trump's election win
After her devastating loss against Republican candidate Donald Trump, Democratic leader Kamala Harris addressed the defeat in a speech made to her followers yesterday (6 November).
The 60-year-old politician began her statement to claim she'd 'never give up', reminding her followers that Americans should never feel obliged to show their loyalty to Trump, 78, but to the constitution, as well as their own conscience.
"My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say: while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled the campaign," she said in a televised speech outside her alma, Howard University.
Advert
Harris added: "The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people. All fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best.
"That is a fight I will never give up."
Observing her appearance, one body language expert has reached a series of interesting conclusions about what exactly Harris was trying to convey during her speech - both in her movements and her words.
"Kamala entered the stage with a strong power walk and looks confident," Darren Stanton told Tyla on behalf of Slingo.
He then went to further claim that the vice-president regularly thumps her chest as a means of emphasising her resilience.
"She makes a gesture, a heart, which she does a lot," he explained. "It’s a gesture that shows Kamala is a kinaesthetic person and is good at going with her gut instinct.
"She’s very good at building a rapport with other people. She’s showing a genuine smile, we see those lines, crow’s feet at the side of her face, it’s fully engaged.
"Clearly, it’s not the happy occasion she wanted but in terms of her personal resilience, she is being completely authentic."
Darren added, however, that though she is attempting to comfort and encourage those dishearten by the election results, she appears at times unable to hide how she really feels.
"When subject changes to Trump, her voice cracks slightly, you’ll notice Kamala closes her eyes for a second, her eyebrows come together," he said.
"And you’ll see an increase in her blink rate as the emotion kicks in.
"Here Kamala’s body language gives her away and shows she is very much putting on a brave face and internally, the defeat is gutting for her.
"She pauses more here and begins to swallow - signs of anxiety."
He goes on to say that she is '100 percent genuine in her delivery here and it shows the resilience and strength she has'.
Tyla has previously contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
Topics: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, US News, News, Politics
Rhianna Benson