Donald Trump baffled by group handshake with fellow leaders at ASEAN summit
Domineering handshakes have become a Trump trademark
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has added to his personal catalogue of awkward handshakes with fellow world leaders after being left confused by an apparently straightforward group photo during a summit in the Philippines.
The US president was in Manila attending the opening ceremonies of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference, which began with the group photo of those gathered.
Mr Trump, along with those standing on the podium, was instructed to take part in the “traditional” ASEAN handshake, which consists of a cross-body exercise where leaders extend their right arm over their left and shake the opposite hands of those next to them.
However, the US president seemed briefly confused by the announcer’s instructions, and proceeded to cross his hands in front of him.
He turned to the leaders that flanked him – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the right, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to the left – and extended his arms outwards.
Finally, he crossed his arms and reached to the correct sides and vigorously shook the arms of the two leaders beside him, while laughing.
Mr Trump has on a five-country trip through Asia travelling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Handshakes have become a Trump trademark in his first year in office, with the President demonstrating a tendency to pull the other person towards him before patting them on the back.
In one instance, 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 Mr Abe as the President looked away.
The French President Emmanuel Macron engaged in a white-knuckle handshake with the US leader, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau short-circuited Mr Trump’s attempt at dominance and used his left arm to hold onto him to prevent being pulled toward him.
Additional reporting from AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments