Judi James, a body language expert, has since thrown her two cents into the mix after the US and Ukraine talks went wrong
A body language expert has given their thoughts on a moment of ‘disbelief’ during peace talks at the Oval Office between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
Tensions in Washington: Zelenskyy’s Rocky Meeting with Trump
On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington, D.C., for a high-stakes meeting with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. However, things didn’t exactly go as planned.
While Trump has hosted several world leaders at the White House— including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron— with relatively smooth discussions, his encounter with Zelenskyy was anything but. The meeting quickly turned tense, highlighting stark differences between the two leaders.
Tensions Boil Over: Trump’s Fiery Confrontation with Zelenskyy
In a heated White House meeting on February 28, 78-year-old Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of “gambling with World War 3” over Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia. Witnesses described Trump as red-faced and visibly agitated as the two leaders exchanged tense words.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump told Zelenskyy sharply. “With us, you start having cards… You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War 3! And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country—this country.”
Body language expert Judi James later analyzed the confrontation, pointing out moments of “disbelief” and underlying power dynamics at play. Speaking to DailyMail.com, James described Vice President JD Vance as Trump’s “wingman,” intentionally provoking Zelenskyy while Trump maintained his presidential stature.
“In animal terms, it would be appropriate for a wingman to get into a verbal conflict, but not the alpha, who cannot be replaced or be seen losing,” she explained. Vance, she noted, acted as “the grain of sand that irritates the oyster to produce the pearl,” escalating the argument until Trump finally stepped in.
As tensions peaked, Trump raised both hands and cut in with a firm “No, no, no!”—a clear signal that he had reached his limit. The room, already filled with frustration, fell into uneasy silence.
Disbelief? You’d better believe it.
Trump vs. Zelenskyy: A Showdown Like No Other
For a man who has called himself a global peacemaker, the irony was striking—Donald Trump stepped in to break up a heated argument, only to get caught in the crossfire himself.
According to body language expert Judi James, Trump attempted to assert his dominance with his signature raised index finger—a gesture of ultimate authority. However, it failed to de-escalate the situation as the shouting match between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensified.
“Trump’s weapon of choice was the raised index finger, a strong commanding gesture that usually demands obedience,” James explained. “But here, it failed to stop the row, with both Trump and Zelenskyy raising their voices in an overlap of shouting.”
As the argument reached a boiling point, Trump’s frustration became visible. His face turned red, his frown deepened in disbelief, and he forcefully accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War 3.” When he slammed Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful”, James noted a brief micro-sneer of anger—a rare moment of raw emotion from the former president.
The scene was unlike anything witnessed in the Oval Office before. Viewers at home watched in shock as three top political figures—Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance—screamed over one another, each desperate to have the final word.
A diplomatic meeting? Hardly. This was a political spectacle for the ages.
