Body language expert decodes Trump's 'death clasp' with Emmanuel Macron as their handshake goes viral

WASHINGTON, DC: The handshake between President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron has once again gone viral across social media platforms when the latter arrived at the White House on Monday, February 24.

The meeting marked Macron's first official visit to the US capital after Trump began his second term. The host reportedly waited outside the West Wing to greet him, and the two shook hands before going for a hug.

Trump and Macron made headlines for their handshake battles beginning in May 2017 during their meeting ahead of the NATO summit in Brussels. The duo apparently gripped hands tight enough to make their jaws clench and knuckles go white.

Similar bizarre handshakes were part of their other meetings, including most recently in December 2024, when Trump visited Paris as then-President-elect of the US to attend the reopening of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral.

Body language expert comments on Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron's handshake

Body language expert Judi James described Donald Trump to the Daily Mail as "a serial power-shaker who loved to register alpha, physical domination via his impressive back-catalog of alarming bone-crushers and patting rituals."

However, she felt Macron had won the battle of handshake the first time around when the duo met during Trump's previous term, and recalled: "He gripped Trump's hand so hard you could see the outline of his fingers in the flesh of Trump's hand for several moments after."

Speaking of their interaction on Monday, James noted that both leaders "wanted to register superiority here."

"Trump's power-pat on Macron's shoulder is a control and pinning gesture that also hints at a parental-style dominance," she said. "Macron responds at once with a hand-clamp on Trump's bicep, suggesting he is not intimidated by the President's alpha posturing," she added.

"The two men then lock hands in a 'death clasp' muscular clamping of the hands," continued James.

"Macron slaps his left hand over the clasp to suggest control and then performs a Trump classic, the 'Shake and Yank,' where the clasp is suddenly and relatively violently yanked either forward or backward, de-stabilizing your "opponent" by taking them off-balance," she added.

"As the two men turn to face the cameras Trump keeps a grim grip on Macron's hand, forcing the shake to last for several seconds and several extra shakes longer. We can see how this firm clasp is more like a tussle than a gesture of mutual respect," said James.

With Trump scheduled to host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, James believes that the latter should "study" POTUS' "power-play body language" in advance.

Internet reacts to the handshake between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron

The White House shared footage of Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron shaking hands outside the West Wing on Monday, with netizens commenting their takes on the subject.

"Battle of the handshakes again," wrote a person.

"I feel like they have beef," shared another.

"I thought Macron would struggle with a manly handshake...but maybe he's been prepared for that," noted someone else.

"Look at that power handshake," quipped one user.

"Trump tried again but Macron has done his homework!" stated an individual.

"Macron has figured out how to deal with Trump down to the handshake. He won the battle of the handshakes today. He pulled Trump closer then went for the back hand tap. Lmao. Something like 'my boy,'" tweeted yet another.

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