Politics and Government

10 ways to tell if a President of the United States is lying

Sure, we know Presidents stretch the truth. Here are several tell-tale signs.

Inconsistencies in Statements: Changing stories or frequently revising statements can be a sign. “Last week, I said I invented the internet. This week? I meant I invented Wi-Fi. Next week? Who knows, maybe I’ll have invented smartphones!”

Avoiding Direct Answers: Instead of answering a question directly, they might deflect or pivot to a different topic. “Did I eat the last cookie? Well, speaking of cookies, have you seen the stock market lately? Tremendous growth!”

Overemphasis: Using strong language or overly stressing certain points can sometimes indicate an attempt to persuade or convince. “I NEVER, EVER, NOT EVEN ONCE, in my entire life, borrowed a pencil and forgot to return it. Anyone who says otherwise is misinformed!”

Contradictory Body Language: If verbal statements don’t align with body language, such as avoiding eye contact when making a significant claim, it might be a sign of deception. [While avoiding eye contact] “Of course I believe in unicorns. Why wouldn’t I?”

Defensiveness: Becoming overly defensive or aggressive when questioned can be a sign of discomfort with the topic. “What do you mean I’m not really a descendant of George Washington? Do you have any proof I’m not??!!”

Overloading with Details: Providing an excessive amount of unnecessary details can sometimes be an attempt to make a story more believable. “I didn’t just have cereal for breakfast. It was a bowl of Super Crunchy Oat Blasters, precisely 37.5 grams, with 200ml of almond milk, three sliced strawberries, and a teaspoon of honey from the rare blue-striped bee.”

Microexpressions: These are very brief facial expressions that reveal genuine emotions. For instance, a fleeting look of fear or discomfort might betray an untruth. [Fleeting look of panic] “Aliens? Visiting the White House? Ha! Preposterous! Why would you even think that?”

Vocal Changes: A sudden change in pitch or stammering might indicate nervousness or deception. “I absolutely did not [voice cracks] eat that piece of cake in the fridge. Why would you ask?”

Physical Barriers: Creating physical barriers, like placing objects between oneself and the interviewer or crossing arms, might indicate defensiveness or discomfort. [Hiding behind the Oval Office desk] “Taxes? What taxes? I can’t hear you from back here!”

Reluctance to Provide Details: On the flip side of providing too many details, being overly vague or refusing to provide specifics can also be a sign. “My plan to combat climate change? Oh, it’s in the works. Very detailed. Lots of… details. You’ll see it soon. Very soon.”

Joe Ditzel

Joe Ditzel is a keynote speaker, humor writer, and really bad golfer. You can reach him via email at [email protected] as well as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.