In her first televised interview since replacing President Biden as the top Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris faced scrutiny over her body language, which some experts suggested did not project the confidence expected of a presidential candidate.
In the interview, which took place at a coffee shop in Savannah, Georgia, with CNN anchor Dana Bash, Harris looked uneasy. He frequently avoided making eye contact and hunched over the table. Susan Constantine, a body language specialist, told Fox News Digital in a study that Harris did not display the kind of manner that is usually linked with presidential authority.
“When I look at her overall demeanor, she does not carry the confidence or the presidential appearance in her demeanor to command in her position,” Constantine said. She emphasized that Harris’s body language indicated a lack of confidence, particularly when the Vice President looked down frequently during the interview. “The fact that she’s looking down a lot removes a lot of the fluidity and the authenticity,” Constantine added, noting that breaking eye contact can be interpreted as a form of deflection, signaling discomfort or uncertainty.
During the interview, Harris,59, was joined by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, her campaign mate. Harris frequently glanced at Walz during the talk, as if looking for his assurance or approval. Constantine saw this as evidence of Harris’s dependence on Walz, which may damage her reputation as a firm leader. “She is looking for that signal from Walz to see if he’s on board,” Constantine remarked, noting Walz’s serious demeanor during the interview.
In answer to a question concerning her “Day One” intentions in the event that she was elected president, Harris spoke broadly, emphasizing the need of bolstering the middle class and putting her “opportunity economy” plan into action—which would necessitate congressional action. Constantine, however, took additional offense at her response’s lack of clear executive steps. The body language expert saw Harris’s propensity to “bobble” her head when she was unsure of an answer; she took this as an indication that Harris was seeking the answers rather than confidently and clearly stating them.
“When she struggles, you start to see a lot of the head bobbling. She couldn’t come up with a crystal clear answer, and that’s why she tends to bobble,” Constantine said, adding that such behavior could suggest a lack of preparation or confidence in her responses.
Approximately twenty-seven minutes into the interview, Walz spoke for about twenty-four minutes. Before the interview, some had predicted that Harris may turn to her running mate in the face of tough questions, and it seemed that this suspicion was validated in the last exchange.
Overall, Constantine concluded that Harris did not completely represent the ideal of a strong leader. Harris is running to become the first female president of the United States in November. In general, I would advise other women to dress like powerful women if they want to be in positions of authority. And she doesn’t right now,” Constantine said.
