<p><strong>Short answer</strong><br>
The open palms are usually seen as a gesture of openness.</p>

<p><strong>Background</strong><br>
I have <a href="https://psychology.stackexchange.com/a/17962/6983">answered</a> a <a href="https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/17961/what-is-the-meaning-of-trumps-thumb-and-index-pinch-when-he-speaks">related question</a>, and I will use the same source as I used there, namely an interesting <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2016/08/25/what-does-donald-trumps-body-language-say-about-him" rel="nofollow noreferrer">interview from Euro News</a> with two communication experts, Stevens and prof. Beattie. </p>

<p>They claim that the open-palms gesture (Fig. 1) is one of all-inclusiveness and openness. It is a sign saying ‘<em>look I’m an honest Joe</em>’, and it might be a gesture of ‘<em>look, you the audience and I, we are in exactly the same boat.</em>’ In other words, while acknowledging that Trump talks of himself a lot, Stevens and Beattie claim that he compensates these egocentric words with gestures that show that his emotions and the emotions of the public are aligned and so builds connections between him and his audience.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HszUU.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HszUU.jpg" alt="openpalms"></a><br>
<sup>Fig. 1. Trump's open palms. source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWLxMTC6p5g" rel="nofollow noreferrer">YouTube</a></sup></p>

<p><sub><strong>Source</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2016/08/25/what-does-donald-trumps-body-language-say-about-him" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Euo News article What does Donald Trump’s body language say about him by Charlotte Cullen</a> (2016)</sub></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-03T11:32:03.787Z
Does this address/apply how he opens and closes them (was that event evident in the op?)
Dr. Shmuel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-08T07:32:19.627Z
@Dr.Shmuel no the answer pertains to the question only, namely what the open-handed gesture means. The closure is a gesture of lesser meaning, if you ask me.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-03T08:04:29.143Z
2019-01-03T23:22:17.600Z
2019-01-03T23:22:17.600Z
AliceD
<p>Is there any significance on how President Trump constantly spreads apart from each other his hands while talking? <br>I postulate that this falls under some sort of sub-conscious (or conscious) body language message. Though, I can’t put my finger on it, my speculation ranges from where it is at his disadvantage to those watching him. </p>

<p>Specifically, when I saw <strong><em><a href="https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/01/02/politics/donald-trump-lonely-christmas-new-years/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Famp.cnn.com%2F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this video</a></em></strong> I was awakened to ask this question. The way he conducts himself there seems to be a hyper-version of whatever it normally means.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-03T00:07:49.197Z
[Certainly related](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/17961/20441)
Dr. Shmuel
<behaviorism><body-language>
Is there any significance to the way Trump spreads his hand from each other?
Dr. Shmuel
# Is there any significance to the way Trump spreads his hand from each other?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-03)

Is there any significance on how President Trump constantly spreads apart from each other his hands while talking?   
I postulate that this falls under some sort of sub-conscious (or conscious) body language message. Though, I can’t put my finger on it, my speculation ranges from where it is at his disadvantage to those watching him.

Specifically, when I saw ***[this video](https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/01/02/politics/donald-trump-lonely-christmas-new-years/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Famp.cnn.com%2F)*** I was awakened to ask this question. The way he conducts himself there seems to be a hyper-version of whatever it normally means.

**Tags:** behaviorism, body-language

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: [Certainly related](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/17961/20441)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-01-03. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

**Short answer**  
The open palms are usually seen as a gesture of openness.

**Background**  
I have [answered](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/a/17962/6983) a [related question](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/17961/what-is-the-meaning-of-trumps-thumb-and-index-pinch-when-he-speaks), and I will use the same source as I used there, namely an interesting [interview from Euro News](https://www.euronews.com/2016/08/25/what-does-donald-trumps-body-language-say-about-him) with two communication experts, Stevens and prof. Beattie.

They claim that the open-palms gesture (Fig. 1) is one of all-inclusiveness and openness. It is a sign saying ‘*look I’m an honest Joe*’, and it might be a gesture of ‘*look, you the audience and I, we are in exactly the same boat.*’ In other words, while acknowledging that Trump talks of himself a lot, Stevens and Beattie claim that he compensates these egocentric words with gestures that show that his emotions and the emotions of the public are aligned and so builds connections between him and his audience.

[![openpalms](https://i.sstatic.net/HszUU.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/HszUU.jpg)  
Fig. 1. Trump's open palms. source: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWLxMTC6p5g)

**Source**  
**-** [Euo News article What does Donald Trump’s body language say about him by Charlotte Cullen](https://www.euronews.com/2016/08/25/what-does-donald-trumps-body-language-say-about-him) (2016)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does this address/apply how he opens and closes them (was that event evident in the op?)  
> **username_1**: @Dr.Shmuel no the answer pertains to the question only, namely what the open-handed gesture means. The closure is a gesture of lesser meaning, if you ask me.  

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