Keir Starmer Displayed ‘Submissive’ Demeanor in Trump Meeting, Says Expert

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A recent encounter between Sir Keir Starmer and former U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn sharp scrutiny after body language expert Judi James described the British Prime Minister’s performance as “comedy gold.” Speaking to GB News, James offered a detailed and unsparing analysis of Starmer’s physical cues during their meeting at the Turnberry resort in Scotland.

The meeting, which covered topics ranging from international diplomacy to the state of free speech in the United Kingdom, quickly became more about posture than policy. According to James, Starmer appeared visibly uncomfortable from the outset, adopting what she called “anxiety rituals,” including a fig leaf stance—an unconscious gesture often linked with defensiveness.

“He looked like a rabbit in the headlights,” James remarked, adding that Starmer “knew all his corns were going to be trodden on” once free speech was mentioned. She pointed to a series of incongruent movements, such as brushing the back of his hand, placing one hand in his pocket, and flashing what she described as a “sickly grin.” These gestures, she said, reflected inner conflict and discomfort, rather than confidence or control.

James also commented on Starmer’s attempts to mirror Trump’s assertive posture during the interaction, noting that he briefly adopted a wider knee stance and a downward steeple hand position. But the effort, according to her, quickly unraveled. “His face just dropped, and he made this rather awkward move to stop Trump mid-sentence. Trump didn’t even acknowledge it,” she observed.

The Prime Minister’s defense of London Mayor Sadiq Khan—after Trump labeled him a “nasty person”—was described as particularly unconvincing. James said Starmer appeared “sweaty” and “embarrassing,” with his comment that Khan is “a friend of mine” doing little to shift the conversation.

Things reportedly grew even more uncomfortable when Trump praised Nigel Farage. At that moment, Starmer allegedly leaned back, pulled at his tie, and offered small nods, gestures James interpreted as “very submissive.” “He looked like a schoolboy being told how to win an election,” she concluded.

While the meeting was meant to present a statesmanlike image, the expert’s analysis suggests the Prime Minister may have struggled to project authority or conviction. Whether this will have a lasting impact remains to be seen, but the optics, at least for now, are raising eyebrows.