A shaky moment, Mr President?
IT was not his first embarrassing moment since he became US President. Donald Trump got in a tangle yesterday, gurning as he struggled to understand a complicated handshake ceremony.
The US president was caught off guard at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference in Manila, capital of the Philippines.
After the group photo, the leaders took part in the traditional Auld Lang Syne-style crossed arms handshake designed to signify regional unity.
Mr Trump did not appear to grasp that the idea is for each leader to cross their arms and shake the hands of those on both sides at the same time.
As Vietnamese prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc proffered his right hand, Mr Trump gripped it with his right hand, rather than his left. He was then at a loss what to do when his host, controversial Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, thrust out his left hand.
Mr Trump, realising something was wrong, freed his right hand from Mr Phuc’s grasp and, now laughing, crossed his arms and shook Mr Duterte’s hand. He then pulled a grimace as he appeared to strain to reach the two much shorter leaders flanking him.