A hidden detail seen during Donald Trump ‘s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown how the former president loves himself.

Body language expert Judi James picked out a key detail from a photo taken of Mr Trump with Mr Netanyahu during the prime minister’s visit to Mar-a-Lago, in Florida. In the telling snap, Mr Trump was seen having a wide grin as he shook Mr Netanyahu’s hand in front of a tapestry.

“Trump’s rictus smile here shows an industrial-strength effort to suggest friendship and camaraderie with Netanyahu, although the effort-full smile suggests this might not be founded on natural, relaxed happiness to see his guest.,” Ms James said. “He leans his torso slightly inward towards Netanyahu as they shake hands for the camera though in a small but quite powerful act of inconvenience from Trump to suggest his guest is respected and honored.”

The body language expert also noted another key detail, namely the handshake between the pair. “It’s the hand clasp that requires scrutiny,” she said.

“At a quick glance it looks like a hand sandwich, where politicians shake and place their other hand into the clasp to sandwich their guest’s hand between their own. But what Trump has done here is a different gesture altogether.

“Trump has taken his free hand and placed it over his own hand in the clasp, which looks more like an affirmation of his own fondness for himself rather than for Netanyahu. It could also look as though he’s clamping his own hand in place.

“Its a possibly clumsy-looking ritual then that, along with the rictus smile, suggests Trump is going outside his own comfort zone to signal bonding with Netanyahu here.”