Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron’s brief meeting at the Gaza peace summit quickly turned into a headline-grabbing awkward moment.
What began as a routine greeting at the Sharm El-Sheikh event ended up looking far more intense than a simple handshake — and the footage has already sparked a lot of speculation.
The handshake that felt more like arm wrestling
The two leaders stepped forward, clasped hands and put a hand on each other’s upper arms — the kind of staged warmth you see at big diplomatic events.
But instead of a regular shake and move-on, the interaction stretched into something that looked like a contest of wills: hands swung side to side, grips tightened, and the whole thing took on an arm-wrestle vibe before Macron finally pulled away and left the stage.
Lip readers add a spicy layer to the moment
Observers who study silent footage say the exchange may have included more than politeness.
According to a lip reader cited in coverage of the clip, Trump opened with a friendly line that sounded like, “Nice to see you, so you agreed?” Macron’s reply wasn’t clear on camera.
The lip reader interprets a back-and-forth where Trump presses, asking if Macron is being sincere, and Macron answers affirmatively.
After that, Trump allegedly tightened his grip and brought up being hurt — a remark that made Macron avert his gaze.
What the two appeared to say — paraphrased
From what analysts watching the video have suggested, the conversation went from small talk to something sharper.
Trump reportedly emphasized he was “making peace,” while Macron reacted with a dismissive tap and a short retort.
The exchange escalated into a pointed line about “only hurting those who hurt others,” followed by a grave warning from Macron — something along the lines of, “You’ll see what’s about to happen.”
Trump closed by challenging Macron to prove it and said they’d speak again soon.
A complicated relationship played out in public
This isn’t the first time their handshakes have drawn attention — past encounters have looked awkward and lasted unusually long.
The two leaders have a public record of cordiality mixed with digs and disagreements, so a tense, performative moment on a summit stage fits a familiar pattern: warm optics layered over real, private friction.
So what happens next?
Nobody outside their inner circles knows exactly what the whispered exchange was about or where it goes from here.
The clip will likely keep stirring conversation about their relationship and the wider diplomatic dynamics at the Gaza summit.
For now, the image of the tightened grip and hurried exit says more about stagecraft and personal chemistry than it does about policy — but it’s certainly left people wondering what was said off-camera and what will happen next.