Patty Ann Wood, a body language expert consulted by Newsweek, said the encounter conveyed a mix of deference, confidence, and subtle competition.

As Putin approached, Trump applauded lightly and stepped forward. “That shows respect toward Putin,” Wood said, noting that Trump’s movement broke from his usual practice of waiting to be greeted.

At the handshake itself, Trump presented his palm upward rather than asserting his hand on top. “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,” Wood explained. Still, Trump maintained one of his signature moves: keeping the handshake tight to his mid-body. “That pulls the other person in, a display of power,” she said.

Both men held eye contact and smiled, which Wood described as “a balance of deference and