Donald Trump’s latest meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron has sparked fresh chaos online, not because of politics, but because of that handshake.
The pair reunited at a global summit in Egypt on 13 October, and what was supposed to be a quick photo-op turned into an awkward 26-second power struggle.
Rather than a simple handshake, the two leaders locked hands, swapped grips, pulled each other around and, at one point, looked like they were about to start slow-dancing.
According to professional lip reader Nicola Hickling, though, this wasn’t just an uncomfortable greeting; it was a full-blown verbal showdown, The Mirror US reports.
The summit, which focused on the future of Gaza following the recent ceasefire with Israel, came just weeks after the two clashed politically. Macron had joined other nations in recognising the state of Palestine, while Trump claimed such recognition “honours Hamas.” So, when the pair met again in Egypt, things were already tense.
As they clasped hands, Trump reportedly said: “Nice to see you, so you agreed,” to which Macron, facing slightly away, replied: “Of course.”
Trump then appeared to ask: “Is it genuine?” before adding: “Okay, so now I want to know why. You hurt me. I already know. I am making peace.”
According to Hickling, Macron seemed to try to defuse things, replying: “Let’s handle this behind closed doors,” while Trump apparently shot back: “I only hurt the other.”
The French president supposedly ended the exchange with a thinly veiled warning: “We will see about that, you will see what is about to happen.”
Trump’s response? “I’d like to see you do it. Do it. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Naturally, social media wasted no time turning the moment into meme fuel.
“Diplomacy, but make it WWE,” one person joked, while another described the meeting as “an arm-wrestling match in disguise.”
For anyone keeping score, that’s another round in the ongoing Trump-Macron handshake saga. And from the looks of it, neither side’s ready to let go just yet.
