‘I Think They Might Want a Handshake’: Trump and Trudeau Have Awkward White House Encounter
Today, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is visiting with President Donald Trump. And, just like we witnessed last week, there was a moment where the two world leaders sat in the White House in front of reporters and engaged in an awkward moment surrounding their handshake.
With cameras clicking, the two men sat stiffly in their chairs with an uncomfortable silence as neither man spoke for a short period of time.
Eventually, Trump broke the silence, letting Trudeau know what the press wanted.
“I think they might want a handshake,” the president told his Canadian counterpart, offering up his hand.
Unlike his 19-second handshake/pat with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, this one was short and sweet. Following the quick gripping of hands, the two again sat silently for a bit before Trump finally said, “Thank you, press. Thank you very much.”
Afterwards, folks on Twitter took notice of the sorta clumsy encounter between the two.
“I think he might want a handshake.” The face says it all #TrudeaumeetsTrump pic.twitter.com/Ca5loAqiJv
— Rui Melo (@HeyRui) February 13, 2017
When a non-mahram goes for a handshake pic.twitter.com/EYCk4Uttf0
— إحسان (@I7sannFt) February 13, 2017
Lunatic bigot Trump puts out his hand for Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to shake — and Trudeau’s reaction is priceless. pic.twitter.com/sOWyHu8jOJ
— Bill Madden (@activist360) February 13, 2017
Compare Trudeau-Trump visit and body language to Trudeau-Obama visit and body language pic.twitter.com/Ot5Xw3VnJQ
— HerMusings ? (@flutterpolitely) February 13, 2017
Justin Trudeau is looking at Trump’s hand like he just read the Russian Dossier pic.twitter.com/XGpGF7O7LG
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 13, 2017
Well, that was awkward pic.twitter.com/NdF8k5tHVa
— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) February 13, 2017
It was also noted that when Trump first greeted Trudeau at the White House, he tried to engage in a “dominance” handshake, with Trudeau apparently resisting it.
President Trump welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the White House. https://t.co/n7TqA3VDnW pic.twitter.com/5TcpyDfZx5
— ABC News (@ABC) February 13, 2017
I think this makes clear that Trump’s “weird handshake” is a pure dominance play. https://t.co/Tqts2k1IvJ
— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) February 13, 2017
Trudeau resisting Trump’s weird handshake is the biggest display of dominance in the history of Canada
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) February 13, 2017
Notice how Trudeau does the ‘alpha shoulder grab’ before Trump can do the ‘alpha rip his arm off’ handshake.pic.twitter.com/ByGqMfeVFr
— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) February 13, 2017
Watch a clip of the White House encounter above, via CNN.
h/t: Tommy Christopher
[image via screengrab]
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