Stunning detail exposed in Anthony Albanese’s selfie with Donald Trump: ‘He’s almost crying’

An in-person meeting between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump was long-awaited but the selfie that came from it is anything but comforting, a body language expert said.

The Prime Minister met Trump in New York at an evening reception for world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Australian time.

‘Good to chat with President Donald Trump at US welcome reception for world leaders attending United Nations General Assembly,’ the PM posted.

But body language expert Dr Louise Mahler has warned the smiling photograph is less than comforting for Australians.

Offering her first impressions, she told Daily Mail her attention was immediately drawn to Albanese.

‘Albanese looks so excited, it’s not a joke. He is overexcited – that’s not a smile, that’s delirium,’ she said.

‘He looks a bit sycophantic to me. Albanese is beyond hysterical with excitement, but Trump is faking the smile.

‘Albanese is pushed into Trump’s side, keen to get close. His smile is ecstatic – with his mouth wide and the eyes so engaged in the smile it almost looks like he is crying with excitement,’ Dr Mahler said. 

Referencing the Duchenne smile, which is an expression showing true enjoyment, Dr Mahler said a real smile would see the mouth move sideways and the muscles under the eyes crease.

‘In that photo, clearly, Trump is not doing the Duchenne smile, he’s doing a fake smile which is just the mouth and it has lifted his eyes up. It’s not a genuine smile,’ she said.

‘He looks like a wax model, if I’m honest. The expression on his face is not a natural look. It’s not inspired by emotion.

‘His expression looks like it’s very consciously manufactured and therefore, something that someone who was doing a wax model would create.’

Dr Mahler added that the difference between the two men was stark in the photo: ‘It looks like the rich man and the poor man.’

‘One (Trump) has the dark suit, the blue tie, the teeth, the tan,’ she said.

‘The other (Albanese) looks like a public servant with a grey suit, big glasses, and the teeth are not as white. 

‘It looks like a schoolboy having a photo with the headmaster.’

The expert also gave her analysis on the body language of the leaders, highlighting how Trump was slightly hunched forward while Albanese was standing up straight.

‘I imagine Albanese jumped in. He looks like he’s moved to that position, jumped in, pressed against Trump, and grabbed the photo,’ Dr Mahler said.

But she said Trump looked exhausted, adding that it is not unusual. 

‘The pinch between the eyebrows would say he’s not interested in being there. It’s boring, it’s duty,’ she said.

‘The pinch between the eyebrows, the head forward, the false teeth, he doesn’t look human.’

For those wanting to project strong leadership, Dr Mahler said it is critical to stand balanced upright on both feet. 

An example of what to avoid, she said, was the apology press conference by Optus CEO Stephen Rue on Friday when he announced there had been a 13-hour triple-0 blackout on Thursday that was linked to up to four deaths.

‘He did his speech standing on one leg. This is not balanced, it doesn’t look like one is committed physically to the engagement,’ she said.

‘So standing straight on two feet is best, with the head balanced on the body, which means that the back of the neck is straight. Heads off the body are about tiredness or lack of interest.  

‘The gold standard on all of this was former US President Barack Obama. He was magnificent.

‘You would not catch Obama out standing on one leg, not up straight, not with his head. He would never put his head forward. He didn’t fake smiles.’

The photo of Albanese and Trump was taken at an event at the Lotte New York Palace hotel, hosted by the US President and First Lady Melania Trump.

Attended by more than 100 world leaders, it marked the first time Albanese and Trump had successfully met in person after multiple snubs and failed attempts.

The Australian leader attended the reception, held on Tuesday night US time, alongside his soon-to-be wife, Jodie Haydon.

He and Trump will sit down for a formal meeting on October 20, Albanese confirmed during a press conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting is expected to be a substantial engagement, potentially including an Oval Office audience.

Albanese will return to the US for the second time in a month for the stand-alone trip.

Albanese failed to secure an in-person meeting with Trump during the UN General Assembly.