Fact Check: Did Trump refuse to shake hands with Keir Starmer at G7 Summit?
ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE: Following the 52nd G7 Summit, held in France from Monday, June 15 to Wednesday, June 17, a video began circulating on social media platforms claiming to show President Donald Trump refusing to shake hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, sparking speculation and criticisms against Trump. Let us analyze the viral video and fact-check the claim.
Claim: Donald Trump didn't shake hands with Keir Starmer
According to the viral post, when President Donald Trump arrived at a meeting of world leaders, he did not shake the hand of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The post included a short clip appearing to show the incident, accompanied by a caption stating, “Donald Trump shook everyone’s hand, except Keir Starmer, then walked off.”
The video has spread on X and Instagram, garnering hundreds of thousands of views, with many appearing to believe it to be true, sparking speculations about the relationship between the two world leaders.
Fact Check: Donald Trump did shake hands with Keir Starmer
WATCH: @POTUS' arrival for Day 2 of the 2026 G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France pic.twitter.com/dPPJRghL5W
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 16, 2026
The video, however, is misleading, and the claim is false.
The video filmed by the attendee begins only after the broadcast had switched to footage of Trump greeting world leaders. A longer version of the video shows that Trump and Starmer had already shaken hands moments earlier. Several videos available on YouTube and other social media platforms confirm this.
A fact check by Grok stated, “The edited clip shows Trump greeting other G7 leaders in Evian-les-Bains, France (June 2026), without visibly engaging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in that specific moment. However, full arrival footage confirms Trump and Starmer did shake hands earlier in the sequence.”
Donald Trump walked into a G7 meeting saying 'I'm the boss'
On the final day of the 52nd G7 summit, walking late into a high-level morning economic session already in progress, Trump boldly announced to the room of world leaders, "I'm the boss," drawing immediate laughter from the assembled heads of state.
The room was already seated and deep into discussions when the president strolled in, after which French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to smooth over the interruption, welcoming him with a polite, “Oh, hello, Mr President.”
