A body language expert has dissected Keir Starmer’s crunch meeting with President Trump, saying his “eggshell treading reached thermonuclear proportions” as the pair faced reporters.
The prime minister came away from the Oval Office with reasons to be optimistic after Trump signalled support for a UK-US trade deal and Britain’s plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Speaking on GB News, political presentation coach Graham Davies said Starmer made a “good move” in the way he sat.
“He was sitting back on one of those golden thrones”, he said.
Graham Davies discussed Starmer's response to JD Vance's criticism
POOL / GB NEWS
“If you are trying to imitate [Emmanuel] Macron and have half-buttocks leaning off the chair in a forward-leaning position, that would have meant he was always looking to be the equal of President Trump in terms of airtime.
“It’s quite right Sir Keir is sat back in a relaxed position and try not to be upfront like the president was.”
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Graham Davies joined Ben Leo and Nana Akua on GB News
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He added: “It was like a scene from Meet the Fockers, where you are meeting the in-laws for the first time and you have to laugh at the Dad’s jokes, you mustn’t swear.
“His eggshell treading reached thermonuclear proportions. He was very careful but didn’t get too submissive.”
Davies told the People’s Channel that the PM expected to be challenged by JD Vance on free speech and had a ready-made response.
“He managed to make a stand and just about not take the knee”, he said.
JD Vance criticised the UK at the Munich Security Conference
GETTY“He responded very fast and I suspect it was a pre-prepared response if the issue of free speech came up.
“It was short, it was sharp, it was immediate.”
The Vice President doubled down on his remarks that free speech is “in retreat” in the UK and Europe.
He said: "We do have of course a special relationship with our friends in the UK and also our European allies, but we also know there have been infringements on free speech that affect not just the British - what the British do in their own country is up to them - but also affect American technology companies and by extension, American citizens.
"So that's something we will talk about at lunch."
Starmer interjected, saying: "we've had free speech for a very long time, it will last a long time, and we are very proud of that".
