At Asia summit, Trump briefly baffled by group handshake
MANILA, Philippines — President Donald Trump is known for his long, at times aggressive, handshakes with world leaders. But at an international summit in the Philippines on Monday, he struggled briefly with a different kind of handshake.
Trump, in Manila, attended the opening ceremonies of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations conference, which began with pageantry and a group photo of the leaders. Then, the announcer intoned that it was time for the leaders to take part in the “traditional” ASEAN handshake. It’s a cross-body exercise, during which each leader extends his right arm over his left and shakes the opposite hands of those next to him.
The announcer’s instructions baffled Trump, who at first simply crossed his hands in front of him.
Then, looking around, he turned to the leaders and simply extended his arms outward, only to find that wasn’t quite right either.
Then he laughed, crossed his arms and reached to the correct sides. He grimaced at first, particularly when bending down to reach the hands of the shorter leaders next to him. And then, with an exaggerated smile, he vigorously gripped the leaders’ hands.
Handshakes have become a Trump trademark in office. He often pulls the other person toward him and pats or yanks in a sign meant to set a tone for the meeting.
He pulled Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s hand toward him and then held onto it for a long time, prompting an eye roll from Abe.
Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron engaged in a whiteknuckle handshake. And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau short-circuited Trump’s attempt at dominance, using his left arm to hold on to Trump to prevent being pulled toward him.