Donald Trump’s spiky signature is quickly recognisable. But, beyond identifying the US president, some experts believe it can actually shed light on his personality and character.
Graphology is the study of handwriting in relation to personality, exploring the connection between written expressions and character traits. Factors, including the baseline of words (where they flow), slant, connecting strokes and writing pressure, can reveal aspects of someone’s psyche, according to research.
What can the practice teach us about Trump?
"The similarities between #Trump's signature and ventricular fibrillation are a bit uncanny"😒~@piandro3142 pic.twitter.com/L0ksofL7fg
— Pascal Meier,MD (@DrPascalMeier) January 26, 2017
What do graphologists look for when analysing handwriting?
Graphology is a meticulous and time-consuming process that takes into account more than 80 different penstrokes and “the shapes, the movement, the pressure, the degree of originality and the overall layout on the page,” says Tracey Trussell, a graphologist, accredited tutor and mentor at the British Institute of Graphologists, and founder of Handright.
Ms Trussell said that she usually begins by observing the “standout features” of the handwriting, “before drilling down and investigating all the other movements on the page, which contribute even more insight”.
What does Trump’s signature tell us about his personality?
According to Ms Trussell, there’s a lot we can learn about Trump from his signature. “Trump’s trademark signature screams narcissism, omniscience and omnipotence,” she tells The Standard. It “transmits wild ambition and fearlessness”.
“The tall vertical representation shows obstinacy, inflexibility and a strong desire to have agency. This is enhanced and intensified by the rigidity and angularity of his pen strokes. It’s his way or no way.”
She also notes that all the letters are joined up, which signifies that “he’s on a mission”, and the “disproportionately huge capital letters emphasises the US president’s pride”.
Ms Trussell adds that “the soaring exaggerated pointed tips indicate big dreams and strong views, albeit frustrated at an aspirational level”.
She says that the “cardio-graphic style of repetitive sharp angles” indicates that “he stakes his opinions in the ground and will not be moved”. She adds that he “also has a filthy explosive temper (seen in the flooded ink-filled ovals) when he doesn’t get his own way”.
The handwriting expert also observes that the width of the letters are comparably narrow, revealing the “complexity” of his character. “Trump thrives on the oxygen of publicity and his behaviour will be aggressive and completely lacking in empathy towards others. However, there are chinks in his armour, because he is personally private and uber defensive.”
Another revealing facet of the US president’s signature is the x-ing in the middle of his signature (where the downstroke of the d crosses his surname). Ms Trussell interprets this as “fatalistic”, reflecting a belief “that whatever happens in his life is his destiny (and not just his own hard work)”.
How reliable is graphology?
There is limited research into the accuracy of graphology. One 2009 study examining “the validity of the graphological method to assess personality traits” found “no evidence” that handwriting analysis could measure personality traits. However, a 2021 study said that there was a “statistically significant relationship” between someone’s personality and a graphologist’s evaluation of it.
“I have found graphology to be highly accurate,” Ms Trussell told The Standard, “Provided the graphologist follows the system, it’s a quick, non-invasive, far-reaching way to reveal volumes about the writer’s core personality, fluid behaviour and state of mind.”
