Barron Trump was seen making peculiar hand gestures as his father dad was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday – and experts say there was meaning behind the movements.
Barron Trump was spotted making peculiar hand gestures as his dad Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.
The 18-year-old made one particular move that politicians are said to use to assert confidence and authority. The gesture, dubbed the politician’s steeple, involves touching the fingertips on each hand to form a triangle shape.
The move was discussed in a viral TikTok which claimed behavioural analysts link it to those “often possessing great power and not concerned with outside opinions”, suggesting Barron’s previously humble image was “likely a disguise”. The clip added the teen looked like a “true politician” and may even follow in Trump’s footsteps in the future.
Body language expert Darren Stanton previously told The Sun that the politician’s steeple is widely considered authoritative position.
He said: “It just shows they believe themselves to be an authority on the topic they’re discussing, and there are two main elements to this gesture. It’s a display of authority if their hands are together. They’re saying, ‘In my opinion, this is what needs to happen’. And they expect to be listened to.
“Tapping whilst using the politician’s steeple means they’re considering what’s being said,” he added. “They’re essentially thinking whether there is any merit to it. People who work in Sales use this when they’re talking to people, as they are processing a lot of information as they speak.”
The hand gesture can also be likened to a yogic position called Uttarabodhi Mudra, which represents enlightenment. The Sanskrit term Uttarabodhi is comprised of two words – Uttara meaning “upwards” and Bodhi meaning “towards awakening” and the move has been repeatedly used by self-professed “misogynist” influencer Andrew Tate, who said: “I do it because it increases my power. It’s like a power up.”
At Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Barron was widely praised for his impeccable manners after he approached Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who were stepping down from their roles, and extended his hand for a warm handshake.
Lip-reading expert Jeremy Freeman interpreted Barron’s conversation with Biden as “G’day to you sir”, and with Harris, “Ma’am, good day”, reports the Irish Star. The encounter earned the teen considerable praise online, with the video circulating rapidly across X and earning commendation for his “class”.
