Trump, standing alongside Powell in a matching hard hat, told reporters that construction costs for the building had gone up by almost half a billion dollars, from US$2.7 billion to $3.1 billion, leading Powell to shake his head in disapproval before saying, “I am not aware of that.”

Eyes were closed, heads were shaking and backs were slapped. The nonverbal cues at the president's visit to the Federal Reserve are worth another look.