By: Hannah Golden in POLITICS
All eyes are on President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as he testifies before two Congressional intelligence committees as part of an investigation into the Trump campaign’s contacts with Russia and its involvement in the 2016 election this week.
This is hardly the first time Kushner and Trump have been the subject of much controversy and debate, especially together. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Kushner attended a previously undisclosed meeting with Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., and a Russian lawyer, allegedly to get dirt on Trump’s presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton.
Trump and Kushner have come under scrutiny numerous times for their unusually close relationship. Kushner, who had no prior political experience, not only had a role in Trump’s campaign but serves currently as a senior advisor to the president. There’s plenty of speculation, but what is their relationship really like under the surface?
Elite Daily spoke with body language experts Susan Constantine and Dr. Lillian Glass to find out.
It’s probably not a shock to learn that Constantine interpreted the two men’s relationship as close. She comments in particular on this photo below of Trump and Kushner’s odd pseudo-embrace on election night.
Of this photo, Constantine says,
The close front alignment shows a powerful bond between Kutcher and Trump. Strong eye contact shows that each others importance. Trumps hand on shoulder is a fatherly gesture, much like patting a son on the head. Kutcher shows his affection slightly different. His hand on the shoulder signifies friendship.
Dr. Glass echoed this in her own, independent analysis, noting a “strong bond” between them. She says of the photo,
The fact that he has placed his hands on Trump’s arms during their embrace shows just how much power and control he has as well as strong affection towards Trump.
But that’s not to say that Kushner and Trump are always two peas in a controversy-riddled pod.
Based on the above photo, which appeared in a July 2016 article in the New York Times, Constantine says that Kushner isn’t totally on board with the program (or the person leading it). She says,
Kushner, with hands in pocket reveals he is holding back, or concealing his true emotions in this event. If one hand was in his pocket it could suggest he feels causal, but both hands in the pocket changes the dynamics. … Kushner is more interested in what’s going on around him than what his father-in-law has to say.
Dr. Glass also caught on to Kushner’s hands-in-pockets stance as a flag. She says,
In general Jared has a relaxed, calm confidence in terms of his posture and facial expression. However his hands in his pockets may mean he has something to hide and may reflect his actual insecurity…
Glass says it’s “lack of experience” that’s to blame for Kushner’s insecurity. But perhaps it was the same lack of experience that got Kushner entangled in the political drama from the get-go.
So just how far does this closeness go in terms of political loyalty? This week’s hearings should provide some answers. But we don’t need to look further to know that Trump and his son-in-law have a special bond.