During a recent meeting at the White House, French President Emmanuel Macron and former US President Donald Trump showed off their unique handshake techniques in what could only be described as a ‘handshake martial arts’ battle.
The two leaders met to discuss the future of Ukraine, with a focus on how Europe and the US can work together toward peace in the ongoing conflict.
However, it was their physical greeting that caught the public’s attention.
The ‘Death Clasp’ Handshakes Continue
The pair’s handshakes have always been intense and have garnered much attention.
Back in 2017, their first meeting made headlines when their handshake lasted for 29 seconds.
This time, during a public press conference, they locked hands for 12 seconds.
The tension continued when they met inside the Oval Office, where Trump attempted to break the usual handshake routine by putting his hand on Macron’s knee—an awkward gesture that Macron turned into yet another hand clasp.
Macron Gains the Upper Hand
Body language expert Judi James analyzed the tense interactions and explained how Macron subtly took control of the handshake battle.
According to James, Macron used a technique to flip Trump’s ‘Shake and Yank’ style against him.
Slapping his left hand over Trump’s grasp, Macron manipulated the handshake, pulling Trump off balance.
This move showed Macron’s strength and dominance, signaling that he was in control, at least in that moment.
Trump Attempts to Reassert Power
Not to be outdone, Trump made his own attempt at regaining control by patting Macron on the knee, a gesture that James described as both de-stabilizing and oddly affectionate.
However, Macron countered by placing his hand over Trump’s knee, which created another unusual clasp, further adding to the tension of the encounter.
The body language between the two leaders was anything but friendly, with their strong grips and unrelenting eye contact seeming more like a challenge than a cordial greeting.
Macron Corrects Trump in the Press Conference
Things became even more tense during a press conference in the Oval Office, when Macron interrupted Trump with a raised hand, correcting a statement the former president had made about Europe’s financial support to Ukraine.
The gesture was seen as a sign of authority, with Macron asserting his position with a raised index finger, which had already been used to point at Trump earlier in the discussion.
Trump, in turn, responded with a dismissive gesture, appearing to let the moment pass, but the subtle signs of power struggle were evident.
The Final ‘Warrior’ Gesture
The culmination of their meeting was marked by a powerful final handshake in the White House.
James described it as a “warrior ritual,” where both leaders used the physical act of clasping hands as a way to display their dominance and physical strength.
It was clear that neither man was willing to give up the upper hand.
The handshake was less of a friendly greeting and more of a battle of wills, with both wanting to demonstrate their superiority going into the meeting.
A Return to Dominance and Strength in Global Politics
James further noted that these power displays in the form of handshakes may signal a return to a style of global leadership where physical power and dominance take precedence over intellectual and diplomatic approaches.
The intense nature of their handshake ritual suggested a move back to “alpha male” leadership styles, where physical strength and forceful gestures are used to convey authority, rather than empathy or reasoned negotiation.
Both Trump and Macron, seasoned experts in the art of the power shake, showed that even in the world of diplomacy, handshakes can be more than just a greeting—they can be a calculated move to establish dominance and control.