At the Alaska summit on Friday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin opened proceedings with a handshake that looked warm on the surface — but carried layers of subtle power play, according to a body language expert.

Patty Ann Wood, speaking to Newsweek, said the greeting was a blend of “deference, control, and familiarity,” with both leaders making calculated moves before the talks that could reshape the Ukraine war and US-Russia relations.

At the start, Trump’s palm faced upward — a position Wood described as “weaker, more subordinate,” suggesting he viewed Putin as the more powerful figure.

“Trump typically likes to have his hand on top,” she said. “Still, he uses a signature Trump move: keeping the handshake tight to his mid-body to pull the other person in, a display of power.”

Both men smiled and locked eyes, with their heads staying close. “That suggests warmth,” Wood noted.

TRUMP SIGNALS DOMINANCE WITH DOUBLE HANDSHAKE

Trump quickly added his left hand to pat Putin’s arm, creating a “double handshake.” Wood called it “a subtle signal of dominance — symbolically saying, ‘I could strike you if I wanted to.'”

Putin responded in kind. As they walked, Trump’s hand moved to the top position, flipping the power balance. “It’s a handshake chess game,” she said.

Wood observed Putin walking with arms swinging loosely, “unlike six months ago when he was more rigid.” Trump kept his arms close, grabbing Putin’s elbow and leaning in to whisper — “both a control move and a gesture of intimacy,” she said.

During their photo opportunity, Putin flexed and unflexed his hands. “This can signal preparation for confrontation, though it may also relate to physical issues,” Wood said. “Both men smile — political theater, given the Ukraine war context.”

Despite the power jockeying, Wood said the moment looked friendly. “It looked like two old friends seeing each other after a long time,” she said.

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