President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged the infamous, solid handshakes during Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
The gesture was shared during the “signs of peace” of Mass, continuing a long history of interaction between the two world leaders before many priests distributed communion to the crowds.
At a meeting in Paris in December, Trump surprised Macron with a heartfelt handshake, locking his leg with him, pushing him firmly down, dragging the French head of state along with him.
Later that day, Trump shook Macron and accepted Macron, reaching out his arms over the French president, especially in a rush-in pose.
Trump then dispels the virus chatter and says, “It’s just a solid shaking. He understands it. It’s just a solid shaking.”
Two months later, the two were seen waving multiple times during a meeting in the oval office.
They shared mutual putts on their shoulders before Trump again pulled his French counterpart and continued greeting.
They shook hands twice more as they entered the oval office.
They even grabbed each other’s mitts in what looked like a “thumb war” they were about to start.
The appeal to nonverbal communication between the two began during Trump’s first term.
At the 2017 NATO summit in Brussels, the two clutched each other and their knuckles turned white.
“Shaking hands with him – it wasn’t innocent.” Macron told reporters After the summit.
Later that year, they waved nearly 30 seconds at the Bastille Day event, and then Trump joked with Macron.
In 2018, the two traded traditional French kisses known as “Bies” on both cheeks during Trump’s first term, further promoting research into their relationship.
Their physical exchange has been more tame, but the handshakes still remain a little longer than usual, revealing both the friendship and power dynamics of their relationship.
With post wire
