Trump’s son-in-law crumbled under Putin’s dominant display at a summit on the brutal war in Ukraine, according to a leading body language expert
Jared Kushner showed clear signs of strain in a face-off with an assertive table-slapping Putin, freezing “like a mannequin”, a leading expert in body language said.
Inbaal Honigman said Trump’s son-in-law revealed his jitters at a top-level meeting with Vlad the invader during talks in Moscow to end the conflict in Ukraine. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star, she said: “Kushner shuffles uneasily in his chair. He’s more nervous than the others.”
The Russian despot started the meeting by slapping the table, a tactic to intimidate Kushner and US envoy Steve Witkoff, she said.
Speaking on behalf of Covers.com, she added: “This is a demand for attention. With that, Putin asserts his authority in the room. He is in charge.”
But Kushner seems to wilt at the challenge, she said, adding: “Jared Kushner’s hands are still hidden, as he displays some uncomfortable fidgeting, tugging on his suit and swaying a bit, struggling to control his nerves.
“Witkoff sits like a seasoned negotiator. His hands are hidden, showing that he’d rather not make his intentions known at that early stage, but he leans very slightly towards Putin, indicating interest, and that he is engaged in their conversation.
“Kushner sits still and stiff like a mannequin, tense, not getting involved in the chit-chat as much.”
Kushner, 44, is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka and acted as a senior adviser during the president’s first administration from 2017 to 2021. He is the son of a wealthy developer and was himself listed as a billionaire by Forbes in September.
Despite apparently getting rattled by Putin, Kushner has become a key figure in American diplomacy. He is credited with creating the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan, including the 2020 Abraham Accords. More recently, he achieved a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Although he brings no government or foreign policy experience, he has been an informal adviser in recent 2025 negotiations alongside US special envoy Witkoff.
He played a central role in brokering a comprehensive 20-point Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, which took effect in October 2025.
He has made several trips to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials to work on the agreement’s second phase, which includes issues such as disarming Hamas and post-war governance of Gaza.
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