Trump handshake BACKFIRES as Macron leaves WHITE MARKS on President's hand
EMMANUEL Macron got to grips with Donald Trump with a handshake so firm it left white marks his US counterpart’s hand as the French President attempted to get even in the duo's continuing game of one-upmanship.
Trump and Macron exchange handshake at the G7 Summit
The pair famously shook hands for 29 seconds last July when Mr Trump attended Bastille Day celebrations in Paris last July – and they locked horns - or at least hands - once again at the G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec.
And while last time round, Mr Trump was widely seen to have intimidated Mr Macron with the ferocity of his grip, this time the tables seem to have been turned.
Their latest encounter was much briefer, lasting barely 10 seconds – but Mr Macron, 40, clearly puts the squeeze on the brash billionaire, 71.
Mr Macron even winked to the cameras during the course of the handshake.
When they let go, close-ups of the US President’s hand show marks which attest to the power of Mr Macron’s grip, while Mr Macron jokingly raised his fists in a boxing stance.
The pair have enjoyed a seemingly-friendly relationship since Mr Macron’s election last year, with observers hailing a budding “bromance” following Mr Macron’s visit to the White House in April.
Mr Trump told reporters after Mr Macron let him go: “We have a very really good relationship, very special.”
The picture of Trump's hand quickly did the rounds on social media.
Macron wins the handshake game
One, Kewtiebird, observed: “Well @realDonaldTrump we know who the real WINNER is: @EmmanuelMacron.”
Another, Nick Wenmaekers tweeted: “Macron wins the handshake game.”
Another user, named Jimvj posted: “It was Trump who transformed a simple handshake into a weird vomit inducing act of machismo: yanking the other person, & holding on for a very long time.
“Point, set & match to Macron.”
Mr Trump subsequently left the summit early, and stirred up more controversy by backing out of a joint G7 communique aimed at defusing the burgeoning trade dispute which has seem the US impose tough tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium.
He then aimed a series of tweets at Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, branding him “dishonest and weak” after Mr Trudeau criticised him over his tariffs policy.
Speaking before Mr Trump’s tweets, Mr Macron had described the summit as a success, adding: “The nature of the debate we had was rather appeasement and it stopped the escalation in terms of behaviour.”