President Donald Trump on Monday had an awkward moment at the G7 summit in France as he greeted French President Emmanuel Macron and wife, Brigitte Macron. The encounter began with a relatively quick and normal handshake between Trump and his French counterpart. But then the meeting took a strange turn. Trump gave Brigitte Macron a customary kiss on each cheek as he took her hand, but then didn’t let go. He held onto her hand for about 13 seconds as he continues to shake it while speaking to the couple.
Trump, who has a long history of awkward handshakes, has saved some of his strangest for the Macrons, including some described as “tug-of-war” handshakes. Just last year, the two shared a lengthy one in Egypt. In 2017, the two went viral twice for their long and awkward handshakes, including one that lasted nearly 30 seconds.
This week’s encounter was likely even more awkward given comments Trump has made about the French president and his wife. “I call up France, Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly,” Trump said in April. “Still recovering from the right to the jaw.” That was a reference to footage last year that showed the French first lady pushing her husband’s face just as they were about to step off a plane. Emmanuel Macron later insisted the two had been “joking” and called Trump’s comments “neither elegant nor up to standard.”
Trump’s Hand Bruises
Trump’s latest odd handshake comes at a time when he’s suffered from bruises on the back of his hand, which the White House had initially blamed on “shaking hands all day, every day.” The White House later admitted the bruises — which Trump frequently covers with makeup — are also caused by his use of aspirin. Some doctors have questioned his daily dose of 325 mg, with CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner saying earlier this year it “makes no sense.”
