Donald Trump and Nicki Minaj have captured the internet’s attention with a surprising display of mutual admiration, according to a body language expert. This follows their eye-catching appearance together, where they held hands in a moment that quickly went viral.
The unexpected pairing left audiences worldwide in awe when the 43-year-old rapper, sporting a plush white coat, took the hand of the 79-year-old former president during a joint appearance on stage in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
The event, which became a focal point in the media, featured the duo exchanging air kisses and publicly expressing their admiration for one another.
Judi James, a specialist in body language, analyzed their extraordinary interaction and concluded that Trump appears genuinely impressed by Minaj’s support, suggesting a close rapport between them.
James noted that their effusive compliments were mirrored by their physical interactions, describing their level of touch as unusually high for a presidential figure.
“Does the body language align with all their spoken flattery? In many respects, it indeed does,” she remarked.
‘Trump claps her onto the stage and throws his arms out in a mimed hug before stretching his hand out, palm up and thumb splayed, for a shake that he converts into a hand sandwich, placing his other hand on top of hers to register warmth and extending the clasp while he chats, patting her hand as he does so.
‘He seems to want to suggest a form of gentlemanly respect here and his beaming, “bullfrog smile” as she praises him suggests he totally gets the value of her support.
Nicki Minaj joined President Donald Trump on stage as he delivered remarks during the Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts Summit on Wednesday
The pair held onto each other’s hands during the event held in Washington, DC
‘There is even a moment when Trump leans forward to either plant an air-kiss on Nicki’s left cheek or to whisper something in her ear to suggest close friendship.’
In the aftermath of the spectacle some questioned whether Minaj’s widened-eyed glance signaled something sinister between herself and Trump.
But for James, the Grammy winner was simply transfixed by the president, whom she holds in such high regard.
‘He clasps her hand to lead her to the lectern and it’s at this point where Nicki appears to throw a widened-eye glance to the audience before she goes to speak that could be read as cynical and humorous, but when she speaks the body language aligns with the words to suggest she is in awe to be meeting her hero,’ James said.
‘Their hand clasp returns as they join each other at the end of her speech and the way her fingers with the incredible nails are curled around Trump’s hand suggests this is a mutual admiration society at work.’
During the on-stage spectacle, Trump praised Minaj for investing hundreds of thousands into accounts for her supporters’ children.
She also returned the compliments and told the crowd from the podium in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium: ‘I am probably the president’s number one fan. And that’s not going to change.’
Minaj also said any hate towards Trump motivates her and his backers to support him even more.
The bizarre headline-making event also saw the duo air kiss as they greeted each other
Minaj’s acryllic nails were on full display as she clutched onto Trump’s hand
Trump and Minaj are both bathing in a pool of mutual adoration, a body language expert has claimed
She continued: ‘We’re not going to let them get away with bullying him, and, you know, the smear campaigns – it’s not going to work, OK?
‘He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him. Amen?’
Trump leaned over and said off mic to the rapper: ‘That is so nice, thank you.’
Minaj sat beside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trump advisor Alex Bruesewitz at the event in a frigid and still-snow-littered DC.
Trump also joked about Minaj’s long acrylic nails and that he was inspired to grow his own nails out.
‘I just think she’s great,’ he said. ‘You know, I’ve been hearing so much over the years because I didn’t know Nicki and I’ve been hearing over the years, she’s a big Trump supporter, a Trump fan, and she took a little heat on occasion.’
‘Her community isn’t necessarily – I’ll tell ya – we did pretty damn well with your community, as we say,’ he added. ‘But Nicki has been an unbelievable supporter.’
