Here we go again. Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron shared a firm and lengthy handshake outside the Oval Office on Monday ahead of a bilateral meeting dominated by Russia’s war on Ukraine. In addition to their handshakes, the two leaders also had a rather strange exchange where they each attempted to put their hands on their rival’s knee, which Macron didn’t exactly like.

After the initial grip-and-grin, accompanied by mutual pats on the shoulder, the Trump pulled his French counterpart close in to continue the greeting. Trump has a history of his pull-and-yank handshakes with Macron, someone the president seems to be a little jealous of.

Trump, 78, and old enough to be 47-year old Macron’s father, then waved to the assembled media before ducking inside the West Wing.

France's President Emmanuel Macron wasn't gonna let that weakling Donald Trump try to yank him with his weird handshake.

He went on the offense and yanked Donald Trump's tiny hand first.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/9gRZT2gh2u

— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) February 24, 2025

Then Trump and Macron shared a lengthy, awkward handshake as they sat in front of reporters in the Oval Office.

The handshake, which resembled a cringey dap up, spanned six seconds and included them pulling at each other’s arms—a clear power struggle that was not masked by them sharing a laugh throughout.

quite a handshake or whatever this is here between Trump and Macron pic.twitter.com/RrbwQfCQAM

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 24, 2025

Trump initiated the exchange by grabbing Macron’s arm after joking his counterpart had presented a deal on paper that was different from what they had previously discussed in person—albeit without an interpreter present.

“We came out and he started speaking the French deal,” Trump recalled. “We didn’t have an interpreter and he was going on and on and on, and I was just nodding ‘yes, yes, yes, yes. And Macron really sold me out because I got back the next day and I read the papers, and I said, ‘that’s not what we said!’”

After the leaders released each other’s hands, Macron gave Trump a pat on his right knee. Trump then tried to reciprocate but Macron wasn’t having it.

Just look at Macron and Trump’s little tiff. These two, I swear.

LMAOOO, look at President Macron prying trump's tiny little mitt off of his knee.

WTF is even happening here?pic.twitter.com/8WoPK2GhPN

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) February 24, 2025

People on social media had a field day:

This is hilarious.

I bet the MAGA crowd will probably claim this is just 'alpha male dominance behavior', or some such nonsense – but it's really giving strong 'that guy at the bar who doesn't understand why his dating app matches keep blocking him' vibes…

— A Very British Dad in America (@MChowdry) February 25, 2025

When a man loves another man very much, and they want to touch each other….. But it turns out one man didn't want to be touched, well, this.

— Endurn (@EndurnUticensis) February 25, 2025

It is indeed hard to get humiliated by both France and Germany in the space of 24 hours, but alas, our President has accomplished it. ❤️🇩🇪🇫🇷

— Diana (@dianavs44) February 24, 2025

Body language here is fascinating.
Trump looks so weak.

— Sandy (@sandiechill) February 24, 2025

Macron’s graceful deflection of Trump’s touch shows true leadership—firm, respectful, and composed. Trump’s awkward overreach just highlights his lack of boundaries and weak diplomatic finesse. Vive la France! 🇫🇷

— Richard Angwin (@RichardAngwin) February 24, 2025

He's repulsed by the touch of Trumps cold dead hands. Also he's probably aware Trump didn't wash his hands after giving Elon his mid-afternoon reach around. The smell gives it away.

— GrokThinks (@grokthinks) February 25, 2025