OK! Gotta ask: Does anyone know anyone who sits and talks crossed armed like Trump?

[rgbecker]

I can't say I've ever seen it before. Is it instead of crossing his fingers as he lies about his opinions about the issues?

[dhol82]

1. It is a classic defensive posture

I think he mostly does it when somebody disagrees with him.

[Butterflylady]

10. It also signals that the person is hiding something,

like the truth.

[Ms. Toad]

45. Or that they are cold.

I sit that way fairly frequently when I'm cold - but I am conscious of the message it sends.

[tblue37]

24. Or angry child posture:

[klook]

30. Exactly my thought.

Can't wait for li'l Donnie to take his ball and go home -- or better, to prison.

[Orsino]

26. Defensive posture masquerading as astonish-me aggressiveness.

I think he also does it to conceal his belly, though.

[tonyt53]

28. Right on both assessments!

[lunatica]

34. I think hes trying to channel il duche

He thinks he looks formidable and badass. Whenever he does it he also juts his chin out.

It just looks stupid though. Especially when he’s seated. But then we know he doesn’t get it like with his “hairdo”. He totally deluded about his physical appearance, even when everyone laughs at him.

[Sanity Claws]

2. I've seen it in movies

The person was in a straitjacket.

Other than that, no, I have not seen anyone sit like that.

[ksoze]

3. He has a clear tell when lying - his lips move.

[dhol82]

44. Yup, that is the way I think of him.

Is his mouth open? He’s lying.
It’s a given.

[Firestorm49]

4. Hitler

[SCantiGOP]

27. Not Hitler

Mussolini is the one who we picture as mugging for the audience with crossed arms.
Besides, Hitler was way smarter and understood a lot more about how things work than Trump ever will.

[LongTomH]

38. Google: Trump Mussolini

Click on 'images' Or Google on "The reincarnation of Benito Mussolini" and click on images again.

[Ohiogal]

5. It seems to me like a very defensive posture

As if he doesn't want to listen to any criticism or ideas other than his own. "I am KING, how DARE you CROSS me, PEASANT!"

Also, that disgusting scowl. He and Melania are both scowlers.

[tblue37]

22. His torso is so thick, though, that his arms seem to strain to cross over it.

I am a tubby myself, but I don't have anywhere near that much trouble or strain trying to cross my arms.

Or maybe he just has unusually short arms to go with his tiny hands and short fingers.

[rustydog]

6. Yes I've seen it before, unconscious defensive move.

He is shutting out those he is displeased with or those who are telling him something he does not want to hear. He'll continue to rant, but, like when Jay Inslee took him to the woodshed you saw Trump's face darken, frown then he crossed his arms shutting Inslee out. He kept them crossed as he responded to what he did not want to hear.

[imanamerican63]

7. A boss, bully, arrogant ass, or someone who thinks that he is the most important person in the room?

[dalton99a]

8. It's a classic sign of sincere interest

[Takket]

9. sulking

?h=275&la=en&mw=490&w=490&hash=84302DEEDFFBC06459CACA884F0A20F4501823E2

[sheshe2]

11. He is practicing...

He is practicing how to sit with a straight jacket on.

[Faux pas]

12. Defensive

LIARS. At this point in my life, tRump and the repukes are the only ones I know of.

[redstatebluegirl]

13. I had a boss from hell, a Dean who sat like that in every meeting I was in with him.

He was a real piece of work.

[haele]

14. Had a division officer that did that.

Lying sack o' Sh*** who forgot he was once enlisted and was trying to get an oak leaf going the political route rather than actually taking care of his division and managing it properly.
We were a maintenance division, not a kiss-up-to-the-admiral division.
Two suicides while he was assigned there. The second took his personal .22 pistol to work and shot himself outside in the passageway after trying to shoot the division officer and missing.

Haele

[Ilsa]

18. OMG! How horrible!

Were there any repercussions on him?

[haele]

23. Yup, he was transferred to another command and "allowed" to retire.

There wasn't technically anything they could pin on him - because aggressively "by the book" is not against the UCMJ, but his FITREP was trashed because of the investigation findings of low morale and all the "little exaggerations" he was prone to.

Haele

[Vinca]

15. Someone in a straitjacket.

[TheBlackAdder]

17. +1,673,285 Dang, I wish I thought of that one!

[TheBlackAdder]

16. Dudes who are self-conscious about the size of their tits :-D

[Ilsa]

19. haaaaaa!!! I love it! nt

[rzemanfl]

43. You win the thread. n/t

[Tikki]

20. That is how kids sit when Mom is tearing into them....

learned behavior...becomes a habit when done continually as a kid.

Tikki

[Ilsa]

21. This person is saying, "I don't want to be here

amongst all you little people who don't mean anything to me, and I don't care to hide my feelings by adjusting or relaxing my body language, so deal with it."

[DavidDvorkin]

25. This is very silly.

[PatSeg]

29. I've seen Chris Matthews do it frequently

It looks very uncomfortable.

[gibraltar72]

31. I was in sales financial products

Almost always if I encountered crossed arms it meant I'm not listening or you're not getting through. I found it most in men. In fact when dealing with a man and wife and family security the selfish one was usually the man. Usually I found less than a partnership more one sided relationship.

[ismnotwasm]

32. Yes actually

Trump reminds me of my Dad quite a bit, but my Dad used to lace his fingers on top of his head—in a “I’m superior” posture. He’d cross his arms as well, in situations were he couldn’t assert himself in manner he was used to.

I have to say though, My Dad was an asshole, but Not a Trump class asshole, from what I can tell.

[left-of-center2012]

33. I saw it when I worked a psychiatric hospital

Some patients would sit with their arms crossed,
and rock back and forth,
withdrawing 'into themselves'.

Sort of a defensive position.

[NCTraveler]

35. It's very common.

I do a lot of negotiating and dispute mitigation. Much of it face to face. It really only signifies a couple of things. Discomfort. Concealment. Withdraw. Some others as well.

[slater71]

36. Watch videos of him during the national anthem.

With his hand over his heart, he pats his chest and other times when he standing when someone else is talking. he swivels his upper body. Just like a child. Can`t stand still.

[lunatica]

37. He thinks its a power stance

He’s saying, “This meeting is beneath me and I’m just waiting for it to be over.” And, “You’re talking but I’m not interested and never will be.”

[mercuryblues]

39. My mom started doing that when she got older

She would toss out an insulting and demeaning barb, then cross her arms as people called her out on it. Then act oblivious to it all. A Who me? type of look.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

40. Didn't Mussolini frequently strike that pose? nt

[samnsara]

41. Hes so defensive. He needs a body language coach

[dhol82]

46. He would never listen to any corrections

Can’t you see the teacher walking in and little Donnie crossing his arms and screaming that he didn’t do anything wrong?

[demigoddess]

42. it is defensive and defiant. Like, I am listening but I will not do what you

want, I will do what I want to do!! So there!!!

[Ms. Toad]

47. I can't believe I'm the only one using that posture because of the temperature

If it's cold, and I'm not using a keyboard, each hand is in the opposite armpit to keep it warm.

[sinkingfeeling]

48. Just a pouting toddler who doesn't want to go to bed.