While its performance varies, many have called Trump’s method the “tug n’ shake.”
It starts off like a normal, unassuming handshake, until the shakee is pulled suddenly toward the president, resulting in a very unprofessional body-lurch.
Trump follows this embarrassment up by reassuring the shakee with an even more awkward top-of-the-hand pat.
What’s more, Macron had prior warning to bring his A-game for the Trump Handshake Battle Royale Showdown.
Washington Post editorial board member Jonathan Cape revealed that he asked the French ambassador to the US on Monday if he had warned the new president about Trump’s death grips:
A look of surprise popped on [Ambassador Gérard] Araud’s face as he inquired what exactly did that mean. Both of us told him about Trump’s affinity for the alpha male, grab-and-pull power pump that always seemed to reduce the other person to a rag doll. Forewarned, Araud said he would alert Macron.
