Donald Trump had another awkward handshake with Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, and this one looks like it hurt.
On Saturday, a viral photo circulated showing the French president holding Trump’s hand in a death grip as the two met in France ahead of an Armistice Day celebration commemorating the end of WWI. Trump had spent the week taking shots at Macron, including lashing out [1] at his host on Twitter just after Air Force One touched down for his visit.
It seems that Macron didn’t take too kindly, and when he and Trump met the French president wouldn’t let go of Trump’s hand, squeezing it as Trump’s own hand went limp.
Picture of the aggressive handshake was shared by Reuters reporter Steve Holland and quickly went viral online. Many saw it as an emasculating moment for Trump, who lobbed insults at Macron on Twitter but said nothing when the two actually met face to face.
Our great photographer Carlos Barria captured Macron’s grip in Trump’s hand at Elysee Palace pic.twitter.com/MZ2YBbE9Vl [2]
— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) November 10, 2018 [3]
Of course these two have a history of awkward handshakes.
Who could forget this?
Best thing about this is not the handshake itself but Macron acting like it's totally normal ???????? pic.twitter.com/nE15KO84yt [4]
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) May 25, 2017 [5]
Or this?
Best presidential handshake I've ever seen pic.twitter.com/QD8YnXmhqX [6]
— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) April 24, 2018 [7]
And this was awkward:
Trump-Macron handshake showdown at G7 summit#G72018 [8] pic.twitter.com/hkBiqWNwob [9]
— Press TV (@PressTV) June 9, 2018 [10]
Today, there was also a very awkward thigh pat on Macron’s side, but hey, the French are very touchy-touchy:
Awkward stroke & a pat on @realDonaldTrump [11]’s thigh by @EmmanuelMacron [12] just now at the end of exchange about defence. Trump had earlier tweeted that Macron had insulted him by claiming that an EU army was needed to defend against US. (Macron didn’t actually quite say that) pic.twitter.com/XdUvch7I3O [13]
— Mark Stone (@Stone_SkyNews) November 10, 2018 [14]
As Newsweek [15] had noted, Donald Trump had been known for a habit of aggressive handshakes, often pulling people in aggressively toward him in what was seen as a power move. Emmanuel Macron seemed to counter that with a vice-like grip of Trump’s hand that forced the American president to break off their handshake.
Twitter, as you can imagine, is loving it:
Macron is never going to give up this amazing and slightly petty handshake technique and I love his dedication to a signature move.
— ???????????????? (@beemarty) November 10, 2018 [16]
This is what happens when you go to a party and the person throwing the party didn't invite you and didn't want you there. Poor Baby Trump, he's really gonna hate this photo showing his true weakness.
— Tina Morphis fighting #CreepyPornPresident (@TinaMorphis) November 10, 2018 [17]
You couldn't pay me enough to touch Drump's hand or even be in the same room as him. I gag at the very thought
— Lisa Hamilton (@3x10to8mps) November 10, 2018 [18]
Look how his traditional-sized hand swallows those little hobbit nubs. https://t.co/z8wCY3Lnfj [19]
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) November 10, 2018 [20]
At the Élysée Palace, Macron keeps up the fierce moves from the alpha playbook.
France’s president likes to leave white blanch marks on Trump’s skin. https://t.co/LIncJqogFx [21]
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) November 10, 2018 [22]
.@realdonaldtrump [11] this is weak Donnie. This is an embarrassment. Can’t your tiny hands do better than this? A real man, a real President like Macron, knows how to shake hands of other world leaders! They know how to show strength! You need to grow a pair! https://t.co/aQgn2o3y2w [23]
— WisDom (@spudchapp) November 10, 2018 [24]