Donald Trump loves to point: Linguistics professor explains the president’s body language
An academic in the U.K. has analyzed President Trump’s use of the everyday gesture as a tool for conveying his populist message.
A study by a U.K. academic has lifted the lid on how U.S. President Donald Trump has harnessed the power of an everyday gesture - pointing - to persuade Americans to buy into his populist message.
In a paper published in the journal Social Semiotics recently, Christopher Hart, a professor of linguistics at Lancaster University, offered an in-depth analysis of Trump’s use of pointing during an April 2016 campaign speech.
Hart identified several different varieties of point - such as the inward point, the looping point and the outward point - as key gestures that helped Trump to depict himself as a figure who represents the interests of ordinary people against those of the ‘elite’.
“A density of pointing gestures”
In an interview with HuffPost, Hart said: “Trump is not the only politician to make use of pointing gestures, but I was surprised at just how frequently he points.
“There is something about the live setting of the campaign rally that seems to invite a density of pointing gestures for him.”
Hart’s study analyzed an hour-long speech given by Trump at a rally in Buffalo, New York, seven months before he defeated Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump went on to serve his first term at the White House between 2017 and 2021, before four years away from the presidency after his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. He returned as president in January this year, having beaten Biden’s vice-president, Kamala Harris, in November 2024’s presidential election.
How does Trump use pointing?
- Inward pointing:
Trump’s use of inward pointing during his 2016 campaign rally in Buffalo, Hart says, helped him to promote an image of sincerity as he spoke.
The real estate mogul-turned-politician “performs a self-point in which the fingers are spread apart rather than held together and rather than the tips of the fingers making contact with the chest the whole hand is laid flat against it,” Hart explains.
“The effect is to communicate that the message is one not just conveyed by the speaker but one that comes from their heart.”
- Looping point
Trump’s efforts to portray himself as a truth-talking ‘man of the people’ are also aided by the looping point. Notably, Hart says, the 79-year-old brings the gesture into play as he utters “we” phrases, such as: “What we need”.
“The circular motion of the gesture incorporates the audience as well as the speaker within the referential scope of the expression,” Hart says, adding: “In keeping with the populist claim to be ‘of the people’, looping therefore implies ‘I’m one of you’ or ‘we’re in it together’.”
- Outward point
Trump further strengthens this message by using outward pointing as an accusatory gesture that directs his audience’s attention to perceived enemies of the everyday American.
“Populist politicians like Trump frequently accuse the media of spreading disinformation,” Hart says. “The media are treated as part of the elite who, operating out of self-interest rather than in the interests of ‘the people’, seek to maintain existing power structures and denigrate anyone who threatens to subvert them.”
So, for example, Trump points outwards towards journalists in attendance at his Buffalo rally, telling his audience: “Let me tell you, the dishonest press. World’s most dishonest people.”
Take a look at Hart’s study in full.
Watch the rally Hart analyzed:
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment