It may have appeared to be a peaceful handover of power, but outgoing President and VP Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appeared to be gritting their teeth as Donald Trump was sworn in as US leader today.
Mr Biden was accused by some eagle-eyed viewers of falling asleep during the inauguration ceremony – and body language expert Inbaal Honigman says the pair’s actions during the event speaks volumes about their feelings about Mr Trump.
“During the inauguration, both Biden and Harris’s legs are crossed AWAY from Trump,” she said, “showing that they’re not interested in making any connection with him.”
“Crossing legs away from someone creates a barrier which they are not meant to pass,” the expert told the Covers betting website.
“Harris’s face remains tense, with her lips tight and her eyes wandering sideways,” she said.
The body language expert added: “[While] Biden’s face appears more interested, looking around him [and] even smiling in places.”
Despite both apparently not displaying much approval of the new President, Honigman said Biden at least appeared to accept his incoming premiership, while Harris may still bear a grudge for her decisive electoral defeat in November.
“Where Harris’s arms are crossed defensively, Biden’s arms are to his side, showing an acceptance,” she said.
Perhaps Mr Biden’s calmness was owing to the raft of pardons he pushed through in the last minutes of his administration, letting multiple family members and political allies off the hook – despite none of them currently facing criminal charges.
He said the pardons were issued to stave off any retributions aimed at those close to him by President Trump, adding that they “should not be mistaken as an acknowledgement that they engaged in any wrongdoing”.
However, the former President faced backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike after controversially pardoning his son Hunter for tax and gun crimes last month after pledging not to.
