Victims of Donald Trump's handshake
The US president should be honoured with the title; champion of awkward handshakes.
(Web Desk) - President of the United States, leader of the free world, head of the strongest country on the planet, resident of the most powerful building in the world, Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces, Guardian of the US economy. These are the titles that the US President Donald Trump has with regards to his elected position. But Trump should be honoured with another title that befits his interactions with other important people; champion of awkward handshakes.
It seems that whenever the businessman-turned-politician shakes his hands with another person, he makes sure that the handshake is as awkward as it can get. Maybe being blessed with the presidency came along with the curse of embarrassing handshakes for him. Numerous of his handshakes have gone viral on social media and have made him the laughing on the internet. For some reason, he always messes it up, and in the videos of his handshakes, the discomfort and unease is clearly evident on the faces of the other party.
Trump’s signature handshake is characterized by these actions; he goes in for the handshake, pulls the other person towards him, keeps on holding their hand until the awkwardness is clearly evident, and in the final act smiles and releases. In some cases, he deviates from his modus operandi, and gives a shoulder bump, a pat on the hand, a high five or sometimes completely ignores the person.
Here we look at the victims of Trump’s handshake, who probably cringe whenever they think of their interaction with the US president.
Shinzo Abe:
The terrifying ordeal for Japanese PM Shinzo Abe went on for 19 seconds, and ended with a patronizing pat on the hand. The look on the Japanese PM’s face clearly says ‘Thank God it’s over’. Trump even gives a thumbs up to show that he has won the handshake match, and to add salt to Shinzo’s wounds, says ‘strong hands’.
Mike Pence:
Trump felt that it was necessary to jerk Mike Pence not once, not twice, but thrice, probably to show the future vice president who the real man is in the United States.
Theresa May:
This was more of an awkward clutch. Notice the pat? That’s Donald Trump probably assuring Theresa May that as long she holds his hand, she won’t fall down the steps.
Emmanuel Macron:
In this case, Trump pulled back early, with the French president holding on to his hand. Either he pulls back early or keeps on holding the other person’s hands until the whole room is begging for the handshake to end.
Ben Carson:
Maybe the problem lies in the fact that the US president is too unpredictable. This time he went for a high five as Ben Carson puts his hand forward for a handshake.
Justin Trudeau:
It seems Trudeau won this handshake. The Canadian prime minister probably prepared for the moment. And from the looks of it, his training was successful. One can see how rigidly he stands and holds on firmly to Trump’s shoulder as Trump tries to do his customary pull.
Angela Merkel:
Although this does moment does not involve an awkward handshake, in fact, it does not even have a handshake, but it still wins the award for the most awkward moment. As their meeting ended, one can hear the journalists calling for a handshake, and even the German chancellor asks Trump for one. But with a childishly stubborn look on his face, Trump ignores the requests, and leaves Merkel awkwardly smiling at the press.
