The 2024 Presidential Debate Body Language Analysis Guide

The debate is coming up, but there’s one problem: What are the hidden signs to look for? Here’s the exact body language cues to look for during the next 2024 Presidential debate to know exactly what Trump and Biden are really thinking.

What do 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 have in common?

They are U.S. presidential election years! Woo-woo!

This year I want to put together a Presidential Debate Watch Guide and body language analysis for the upcoming November 5th, 2024 U.S. presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Presidential debates are a great way to see some of the candidates’ “unscripted” body language gestures and nuances. Of course, some of the answers are likely scripted and practiced ahead of time, but these debates give us a much better idea of natural gestures than scripted speeches.

In this video, I want to review all the things you can watch for in the debate coming up, but also I’m going to review some previous presidential debates and go over some interesting nonverbal cues (links to the videos down below).

Let’s dive in.

Special Note: As much as possible I tried to keep this article non-partisan. This is simply an overview of what to look for no matter which candidate or party you prefer!

Who Are The 2024 Presidential Candidates?

As we approach the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the two most notable candidates are current president Joe Biden (Democratic Party) and former president Donald Trump (Republican Party). They will be facing each other in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Debates.

There are also a few more noteworthy candidates https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_candidates,_2024 in the running:

• Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party): Advocates limited government, individual liberties, and free-market principles.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent): Focuses on environmental issues, public health, and reducing corporate influence in politics.
• Marianne Williamson (Democratic Party): Bestselling author and spiritual leader, promoting transformative social policies and economic justice.

When Are The 2024 Presidential Debates?

Two Presidential debates have been scheduled between Joe Biden and Donald Trump:

• June 27: The first debate was held in Atlanta, Georgia and hosted by CNN https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2024/05/15/cnn-to-host-2024-election-presidential-debate-between-president-joe-biden-and-former-president-donald-j-trump-on-june-27/.
• September 10: Details about the time and location of the second debate are yet to be announced, and it will be hosted by ABC https://abc.com/news/6abdd5ab-5cdc-48c2-8184-8be2f1a532c1/category/1138628.

How to Watch the 2024 Presidential Debates Live

Both networks will broadcast the debates on their respective television channels. ABC News has also announced that the September debate will be available on its streaming platform, ABC News Live https://abc.com/watch-live/abc-news, and on Hulu https://www.hulu.com/. Additionally, ABC will permit other broadcast and streaming networks to simulcast its debate.

Pro Tip: On the go, but still want to stay updated? Download news apps from major networks to stream the debate on your mobile device. If you prefer listening, tune into radio stations like NPR https://www.npr.org/ or other news radio networks that might broadcast the debate live.

Who is Leading the Presidential Polls for 2024?

As of May 10-13, 2024, a national poll recently conducted by Fox News https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/05/Fox_May-10-13-2024_National_Topline_May-15-Release.pdf revealed that 49% of registered voters indicated they would vote for Trump, while 48% said they would support Biden.

10 Cues to Watch For in The 2024 Presidential Debate

Without further ado, let’s look at the 10 most important things to look out for this November.

The Grand Entrance

The grand entrance is the first impression of a debate. Studies show that you have 7 seconds to make a first impression— and you can bet the presidential candidates take full advantage of these precious moments.

Throughout my observations, I’ve noticed that the stronger the first impression a candidate makes, the more likely it is that they’re going to win the debate. A sloppy first impression can stick around in peoples’ minds all throughout the debate, while a great one can have lasting positive benefits.

What makes a good first impression?

• A powerful walk
• A smile
• Acknowledging the audience - with a wave or nod
• Visible hands

Territorial Claims

One thing to watch for is where the candidates meet. Do they meet in the middle? Or does someone make an invasive move? Let’s take a look at George W. Bush— in both the 2000 and 2004 debates, he struts right onto the stage and actually invades the other candidate’s territory by crossing onto their side to initiate a handshake.

Here, Bush claims more territory and more space. This gives him a higher perceived dominance and importance over Al Gore. He also has to walk fast to reach the other candidate’s side, showing his physical finesse and prowess.

Presidential Facial Expressions

How should a president look? We like our president’s both serious and approachable. Did you notice Bush’s facial expression while he walked in? He did what I call the “flexed lid” cue. This is one of 97 body language cues that highly charismatic people know. A lower lid flex is when we  harden our lower lids. We do this serious glare when we’re focusing really hard or trying to see something better. This makes Bush’s first impression look determined and focused.

Body language, in its natural form, is extremely hard to fake. Natural body language often comes out as sporadic and awkward body movements.

In the first 2024 presidential debate, you can see Biden displaying cues high in openness—he waves at the moderator, gives a friendly finger point while walking and says “Hi how are you?” You can see his smile and friendliness right away:

Trump, on the other hand, used a completely different approach. He walks with a determined look straight to his podium:

Throughout the debate, you could also see Biden with a rather confused look on his face when Trump is talking. You can even see a hint of disgust:

…While Trump can often be seen displaying a smirk while Biden was talking:

Or using a pursed lips gesture when he felt angry:

We can see another example when Hillary Clinton met Donald Trump: Right as Clinton gets close to Trump, she takes the initiative by saying, “Hey, how are you, Donald?”

Use of Trump’s first name and her greeting made her look warm and friendly to the audience. She further displays high warmth by waving to the audience and then taking it one step further by pointing to the crowd and giving an eyebrow flash of recognition:

Whether Clinton actually recognized a member of the crowd or not isn’t important— doing this move increased her perceived popularity, since we only tend to eyebrow-flash people we like. She then turns to the moderator and shakes his hand, upping her warmth meter even higher:

I believe Clinton aimed to increase her perceived warmth because she is often criticized for being too “cold.” In the Humans of New York’s Facebook Page, Clinton is quoted as saying:

“I know that I can be perceived as aloof or cold or unemotional. But I had to learn as a young woman to control my emotions. And that’s a hard path to walk. Because you need to protect yourself, you need to keep steady, but at the same time you don’t want to seem ‘walled off.’”

While Clinton focused on warming up the crowd, Trump took the opposite approach. His approach was focused on competence and power. First, you saw him do the elbow touch on Clinton.

Then he stands powerfully and shakes the moderator’s hand after Clinton does, sort of as an afterthought. No waving to the crowd, no high warmth cues, no eyebrow flashes.

In the upcoming 2024 debate, pay attention to how both Trump and Biden make their grand entrances. Does it look scripted or more natural? Who tries to aim for warmth? Which candidate goes for more competence?

Analyzing their body language during the grand entrance will help you understand how each candidate will be trying to portray themselves for the rest of the debate. Look for:

___ Eyebrow Raises

___ Verbal Greetings

___ Smiles

___ Greeting the Audience

___ Greeting the Moderator

___ Walk speed

___ Handshakes…read on

The Handshake

Research shows that we can tell a lot about someone’s personality simply from their handshake.

In the 2004 Bush vs. Kerry’s debate, Bush does an incredible handshake move that signals trustworthiness to the audience. He shows the palm of his hand while walking across the stage:

See how far Bush is from Kerry before reaching out his hand? He makes sure that the audience can see the palm of his hand before Kerry takes it and blocks the view from the audience.

Why is this important?

Showing the palms of the hand shows that he has nothing to hide.

To our primitive minds, showing the palms helps us “relax” since we can visually see that there’s no weapon hiding.

Kerry counters by doing a big power move— a touch on Bush’s forearm and pulling Bush’s arm towards him. This move is considered a “double touch” and is intended to display dominance and increase rapport… unless it is unwelcome.

And Bush reacts remarkably in an act of defiance— he “yanks” away from Kerry and rushes back to his podium, effectively ending the handshake immediately.

In Bush’s first Presidential debate, Bush made his grand entrance in almost the same way:

• the fast walk in
• going over to the other candidate’s territory
• open palm

It looked great, except for one thing that made his grand entrance end on a weaker note. In this first debate, Al Gore went for the pull and forearm touch as well:

Except this time, Bush had no idea what to do. He turned toward the audience and looked on awkwardly, perhaps waiting for a photo opportunity. He didn’t get one, so he turned his head unconfidently towards Gore one last time before making his retreat back to the podium.

In that glance towards Gore, Bush gave away a little of his power. We look where others are looking. When Bush looked more towards Gore it made US want to look more towards Gore. Bush would have been better off making eye contact at the audience.

Let’s look at Obama vs McCain.

Obama walked very slowly, showed his open palm before the handshake, and did the elbow-touch power move we’re all familiar with.

But then he turns to the audience, just like Bush did… and gives them a wave.

The handshake made him look highly competent and the audience wave made him look highly warm. These two parts are incredibly important for charisma. I dive deep into the 97 cues for charisma in my book: Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication, but here is what you need to know:

Warmth

Competence

=Charisma

McCain waves to the audience right after Obama, as if in afterthought.

This does 2 things:

• It makes McCain look like a copycat. And we don’t like copycats—we want a leader and first mover as our president.
• It makes Obama look stronger. Since he waved first, it makes him look like the leader.

Keep in mind that during the upcoming debate, the presidential candidates likely have practiced dozens—if not hundreds—of times and mastered their handshake. What can you find out from their handshakes? Does one try to get the upper hand on the other?

If you’re interested in more body language analysis, we’ve got you covered! Check out this resource:

Vocal Power

Vocal power is a candidate’s ability to persuade with their vocal tone as well as their use of vocal nuances.

It can reveal a lot about a candidate’s emotional state and intentions, and even change how viewers feel about a candidate!

Keep an eye out for 4 specific vocal traits:

1. Is their voice confident and controlled? A steady and controlled voice projects confidence and authority, whereas a shaky or inaudible one signals a lack of confidence and leadership.

2. How are they varying their vocal pitch? An increase in pitch might suggest excitement or urgency, while a decrease can imply seriousness or gravity. For example, in the 2016 debates, Donald Trump often raised his voice and pitch when emphasizing key points or attacking his opponent, indicating his assertiveness and eagerness to dominate the discussion:

3. Are they loud or quiet? Speaking louder can command attention and indicate passion, while lowering the volume can draw the audience in and create a sense of intimacy. For instance, during the 2012 debates, Mitt Romney would raise his volume to underscore his economic policies’ importance, demonstrating his passion and commitment. The current president, Joe Biden, often lowers his volume especially when discussing personal stories or even directly addressing the audience.

4. How does their voice fluctuate? Fluctuations in voice tone, such as trembling or inconsistent pitch, can signal stress or uncertainty. These vocal cues can undermine a candidate’s perceived confidence. It is important to note, however, that some candidates may not have a clear voice, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who has a distinctive raspy voice. His raspy tone could convey a sense of earnestness and urgency, drawing listeners in, or it could also be perceived as a sign of strain or vulnerability. In fact, Kennedy Jr. himself said that he can’t listen to his own voice:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/H3L_kCXZpXQ

In the first 2024 presidential debate, Biden was criticized heavily for his raspy voice and coughing, which made him appear unconfident and unhealthy.

First Answer

The next thing you want to look at is the first few seconds of a candidate’s answer.

It is sort of the “Gotcha!” moment because you have a chance to see candidates’ true emotions as they think of the right words to say “on the spot” after being asked a question.

Why is it only the first few seconds after being asked a question? Because after those first few seconds, they’ll likely deliver a scripted answer. They have scripted answers for most every possible question.

Those first few seconds of a candidate’s response give deep insight on their true feelings of the answer to come.

So let’s have a look at some of those first few seconds, and see what they tell us about the candidate and their answer.

In the 2008 Obama vs. McCain debate, the moderator tosses a question at McCain, asking him if he will vote for the financial recovery plan. In the first few seconds of his response, we get:

• a hard throat clearing
• a “sure” reply, and
• a couple stutters— “I, I, I…” and “but, but…”

WHOA, hold your horses! Does McCain sound confident here? Do you even care about what he says next? Do you think he sounds like a leader here?

Nope, nope, and… nope!

Already, you’ve lost trust and McCain’s credibility plummets when he answers this question. Even though McCain recovers right after and gives his scripted answer, his response is already mangled by the bad impression we got from those critical first few seconds.

On the other hand, a confident candidate usually:

• sounds happy to take a question
• is clear when he or she responds— no vocal fry, no breathiness, no pauses
• might even be smiling
• looks directly at the moderator or camera

The key takeaway here is that the first few seconds are critical to know what a candidate actually feels and thinks about a question. Paying attention to these seconds will let you know whether a candidate is trying to simply look good, or actually feels confident as well.

Eye Contact

While addressing the moderator or opponent, pay close attention to how a candidate might shift their eye contact towards the audience (or camera).

A great candidate knows exactly when to look at their opponent and when not to.

For example, Joe Biden frequently talks directly at the camera to address the American people, especially when talking about personal stories or national crises… or in this case, pleading Americans to vote:

https://www.youtube.com/live/wW1lY5jFNcQ?si=mS522TZChXv3ljIm&t=2664

Confident candidates often make frequent eye contact with the audience. It demonstrates self-assurance and conviction. When candidates look directly at the audience while speaking, it also helps the audience pay more attention to them—we like to look back at people who look at us.

Candidates can also use eye contact to their advantage—take a look at the first 2024 debate when Trump strategically looked away from Biden while he was talking, which helps turn the viewer’s attention away from Biden as well:

Listening

Next up is listening. You can learn a lot about how candidates want to portray themselves just by seeing how they listen.

For example, candidates know that the camera might go into split-screen mode anytime, where the viewer will be able to see both candidates at the same time:

Again, this split-screen can happen at ANY time, so the candidates know they’re job isn’t to “just listen” to the other candidate’s answer.

There’s a chance they are still being viewed by millions of people at home, so they have to always be “on,” which means they have to use this precious listening time to achieve 1 of 3 things: undermine, support, or take attention away from the person speaking.

Here’s an example of a distraction cue that Trump does when Clinton begins to speak:

This is a great move on Trump’s part because it’s hard to pay attention to Clinton with his head movements and drinking water. Plus, viewers might also get thirsty, too, and miss out on Clinton’s talk while they get some water.

Also, did you notice how Trump squints his eyes? He’s using the lower lid flex that Bush used.—he hardens his lower eyelids, making a nonverbal, “I don’t believe you” when he looks at Clinton.

Clinton, surprisingly, does the opposite. Most of the time when Trump speaks, Clinton looks at Trump and strikes a pose:

Does this remind you of anything? To me, it looks a lot like the “Yes we can” posters from the Obama era.

I believe she was trying to give off a sense of hopeful optimism to the viewer by striking this pose. However, I don’t think it worked because she actually ended up giving all her gaze attention to Trump.

As humans we pay a lot of attention to eye gaze. We like to look where others look. When Clinton looks over at Trump, we turn our attention to him as well.

In my opinion, she gave a lot of respect to Trump, but in effect gave away a lot of her power, too.

You can also see Bush averting his eye contact in the 2004 debate. He spends a ton of time looking down, giving no attention to Kerry at all. This gives us nonverbal signals and makes us think, “Should we be doing something else as well?”

And the few times he does look up at Kerry, we give him our full attention. He even uses the furrowed brow, which is a subtle anger microexpression, and makes us think we should be angry when listening to Kerry, too. This also looks like confusion–as if to say, ‘I’m confused by Kerry you should be too.’

When Trump and Biden get on stage, Trump will most likely use the same distraction or undermining cues against Biden. Paying close attention to how each one of the candidates listen will show you how they want viewers to perceive them as.

Agreement Cues

Similar to listening, some candidates might give away body language cues that hint to them agreeing with their opponents! This is a great way to see what a candidate might really be thinking. Specifically, you might want to look for subconscious head nods.

Here’s how: When one candidate is speaking, look carefully at the other candidate. Are they subconsciously nodding in agreement? Do they look in disbelief? These cues might give away their thoughts!

For example, during the 2016 debates, Hillary Clinton occasionally nodded in agreement with Donald Trump’s points:

https://www.youtube.com/live/smkyorC5qwc?si=WdwNDt8nwlwLU5wE&t=4627

Nodding can be a sign of respect towards the opponent, and even show humility. However, if a candidate frequently nods in agreement with their opponent, it might make them appear less assertive or dominant and even give mixed signals on where they stand.

Emphasizers

You’ll notice when a lot of candidates are giving their scripted answers, they’ll talk pretty nonchalantly and matter-of-factly. But when they get really excited or heated, they’ll bring in the hand gestures.

Many hand gestures are natural and spontaneous, and tell what a candidate really feels.

Obama is known for using a subtle thumbs up fist-like gesture:

The fist, unlike the pointing finger, is a gesture we usually love. It indicates grit and power, and that a candidate is going to fight for us until there is no more fighting spirit left in him. You can also see a little bit of the thumb pointing up, which is a subtle gesture that increases likability.

Some presidential candidates— especially Trump— use unique hand gestures. We love to see a unique gesture, just as we like to see unique drawings, hear unique songs, and eat unique food. It gives us a boost of dopamine just because they’re so interesting to see:

Here, you can see Trump using a “small” gesture with his hands to indicate something, well, small. But the key here is that he uses it right after he says “Secretary Clinton”— he’s effectively calling her a small, pesky annoyance using this gesture.

On the other hand, when he refers to himself, Trump has wide, sweeping gestures that indicate grandiosity and importance:

He also likes to use one hand in a wide sweeping motion or an up-and-down motion, as seen in the first 2024 debate:

… as well as finger pointing when he’s feeling more emotion:

Biden, on the other hand,

We analyzed thousands of hours of hand gestures and found the ones that were most influential and used by leaders. To get a better idea, you can head over to our article here: 20 Powerful Hand Gestures and Their Meanings

Presidential Humor

Debates can be pretty intense and confrontational. But, they don’t always have to be! Humor can humanize a candidate, making them more relatable and appear more confident.

Plus, people are generally drawn to those who make them laugh—in fact, humor activates the brain’s reward centers, releasing dopamine and creating a positive association with the speaker.

For example, Ronald Reagan had faced criticism for his age following a poor performance in a previous debate.

He decided that humor was the best way to address the issue. During the debate, when asked about his age, Reagan quipped, “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” This joke not only diffused the tension but also showcased his quick wit and ability to address concerns gracefully:

Another great example is Obama’s use of the term “Romnesia” to describe Mitt Romney’s shifting positions on issues:

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Notable Cues to Watch for in a Presidential Debate

There are so many body language cues to look out for, but if you want to go above-and-beyond, I’ve compiled a nifty list of important body language gestures to look out for during the debate.

Remember, there are many body language cues you might be able to spot during the debate, and some cues may have different meanings depending on the candidate.

How Long Is the 2024 Presidential Debate?

Typically, presidential debates last around 90 minutes, with the last one in 2020 clocking in at 95 minutes. This give candidates enough time to challenge their opponents and make a lasting impression on voters. Stay tuned to see how each candidate uses this critical time to their advantage!

Who Will Moderate the Debates?

The first debate will be hosted by CNN, featuring anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash as co-moderators.

The second debate, hosted by ABC News in September, will have anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis as co-moderators.

What Is the Structure of the 2024 Presidential Debate?

The debate typically follows a set format, starting with opening statements, followed by a series of moderated questions covering key topics, and concluding with closing remarks. Each segment allows candidates to present their viewpoints, debate their opponents, and engage in direct dialogue. Here’s how it might look like:

• Opening Statements (5 minutes each): Each candidate begins with a brief overview of their campaign’s key messages and priorities.
• Moderated Questions (60 minutes): The moderator poses questions on various important topics. Each candidate has a set time to respond (usually 2 minutes) and a chance for rebuttals (1 minute each). Key topics might include economy, healthcare, foreign policy, climate change, and social issues.
• Candidate-to-Candidate Questions (15 minutes): Candidates have the opportunity to ask direct questions to each other, fostering a dynamic and interactive discussion.
• Audience Questions (optional, 10 minutes): In some debates, questions submitted by the audience are included to address specific concerns from voters.
• Closing Remarks (5 minutes each): Candidates wrap up with final statements summarizing their positions and making a final appeal to voters.

What Are The Debate Rules and Requirements?

Both CNN and ABC News have set specific criteria for candidates to participate in the debates:

• Candidates must meet constitutional requirements and be registered with the Federal Election Commission.
• They must be on the ballot in enough states to potentially reach at least 270 electoral votes.
• Candidates must accept the debate rules and format.
• They need to receive at least 15% in four national polls of registered or likely voters.

Will Other Candidates Participate in The Presidential Debates?

Due to these stringent requirements, it’s unlikely that independent candidates like Robert Kennedy Jr. or Cornel West will qualify for the debate stage. While Kennedy has already met the 15% threshold in two national polls, West and other third-party candidates have not.

Kennedy is working diligently to get on the ballot in more states. He is already on the ballot in states totaling 85 electoral votes and is collecting signatures in additional states. In a recent statement on X (formerly Twitter), Kennedy expressed confidence that he would meet the debate requirements by the deadline:

https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1790862504647606553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1790862504647606553%7Ctwgr%5E73bb9b0625bd35900b247144cc85b932105549d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2F9XEjXNy%3F_showcaption%3Dtrueapp%3D1

Resources & More

You can find the videos to all the debates here:

• Trump vs. Biden 2020:

• Trump vs. Clinton 2016:

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• Romney vs. Obama 2012:

• McCain vs. Obama 2008:

• Bush vs. Kerry 2004:

• Bush vs. Gore 2000:

Did you learn something from this post? Analyzing body language can be a great way to know what Trump or Biden is really thinking in the next Presidential debate, regardless of what they say. I hope you’re excited as I am for this next debate! Want more? Be sure to check out our body language guide on reading facial expressions: The Definitive Guide to Reading Facial Microexpressions

This article is part of our body language guide. Click here for more.

1. Reading Body Language 101

   • Why Body Language is Important
   • Examples and Meanings
   • How to Read People

2. Body Language at Work

   • Presentation Cues
   • Interview Cues
   • Workplace Cues
   • Business Cues

3. Body Language of Emotions

   • Aggressive Cues
   • Confident Cues
   • Condescending Cues

4. Hidden Opportunities

   • Vocal Cues
   • Presidential Cues
   • Dog Cues
   • Resting Bitch Face
   • Advertising Cues
   • AI and Body Language

5. Body Language for Rapport

   • Mirroring
   • Proxemics

6. Head Behavior

   • Head Cues
   • Facial Microexpressions
   • Eye Cues
   • Nose Cues
   • Mouth Cues
   • Ear Cues

7. Read The Torso

   • Arms Cues
   • Torso Cues
   • Shoulder Cues
   • Neck Cues
   • Hand Gestures

8. Lower Body Language

   • Hip Cues
   • Leg Cues
   • Feet Cues

9. Flirting Body Language

   • Male Cues
   • Female Cues
   • Rules of Attraction
   • How to Flirt