Body language expert explains Trump and Vance’s true feelings during Bishop’s viral speech

A day after Donald Trump was sworn into his second term as the President of the United States, Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon went viral when she challenged him and JD Vance’s position on LGBTQ+ folks.

Just 24 hours after Melania Trump’s hat dominated Twitter, Bishop Mariann Budde found herself trending when she issued an impassioned speech about having “mercy” on LGBTQ+ Americans and immigrants in light of the extreme rule changes the President has already imposed.

“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives,” a portion reads.

Donald Trump slammed the Bishop as a “radical left hard-line Trump hater”, but now body language expert Judi James has revealed what was really going through his head.

Donald Trump kept his ‘poker face’ during Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon

Speaking to The Mirror about the moment, body language expert Judi James explained that the address came at an unexpected moment as Donald Trump and JD Vance were surprised by Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon.

She explained: “Trump managed something close to a poker face but he managed to leak out feelings of impatience and brewing irritation via some of his subtler non-verbal signals

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“He starts by implying he is going to keep his thoughts to himself via a cut-off gesture as he glances downward. When the Bishop talks about ‘people who pick crops and labour in poultry farms’ he taps his order of service in a metronomic ritual of impatience. His mouth falls slightly open and then his jaw slews to the right and he turns his torso to look to the side in the most emphatic reaction before looking down at his program again.”

Judi said that Melania Trump’s body language was as subtle as it was “menacing”, narrowing her eyes and arching her back while sharing her opinion with her husband through inconspicuous eye cues.

Dear Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. You tried to tell Donald Trump to be kind but he has a dark heart. As you see by his response he will never change. But you reached millions of others hearts like mine and inspired hope. Your new fan James Tate. ❤️

pic.twitter.com/VVLY9MyGfe

— James Tate (@JamesTate121) January 22, 2025

On Vice President JD Vance’s feelings on the moment, she noted: “Vance is more open in his display. When the children are mentioned, he glances at his wife in a more obvious gesture of rejection and his eyes come back to the front with a partial, wry smile. He turns to his wife twice then raises his brows in an expression of mock surprise before studying his program. At one point he tries to catch Trump’s eye in a tie-sign signal that suggests a desire to show unity and support.”

Neither Donald nor JD Vance have issued further statements on the matter, but Bishop Mariann Budde told TIME she has no intention of apologising because “a message calling for dignity, respecting dignity, honesty, humility and kindness is resonating with people.”

Icon, plain and simple.

Featured image credit: PBS News