Social media users are dissecting Donald Trump’s unusually extended handshake with Brigitte Macron after his arrival in France.
Trump arrived in the country on Monday for the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, where he was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron.
Footage from the arrival quickly spread online, showing the US president first greeting Emmanuel Macron with a firm handshake before turning to Brigitte Macron.
What happened next drew the most attention, as viewers focused on Trump’s lengthy exchange with the French first lady.
Trump rested a hand on her shoulder and leaned in for La Bise, the customary French cheek-to-cheek greeting, while still holding her hand.
Even after the greeting, he appeared to keep hold of her hand while continuing to speak with the couple, leading some online to describe the moment as a kind of handshake tug of war that lasted roughly 13 seconds.
“That’s awkward!” exclaimed one, as the video continues to circulate the internet, with another penning: ” Wonder what that’s all about.”
“She looked very ready to let go about five seconds in,” a third commented.
Other photos and clips from the visit also appear to show Trump holding Brigitte Macron’s hand as they walk.
Trump does his weird handshake tug of war with Brigitte Macron pic.twitter.com/b4LZpg2sly
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 15, 2026
The moment has also revived discussion of Trump’s long history of attention-grabbing handshakes with Emmanuel Macron. In the past, the pair have repeatedly drawn headlines for unusually forceful or prolonged greetings at summits and state events.
The latest moment has also been viewed in the context of remarks Trump made at a private event in April, when he alleged that Brigitte Macron treats her husband “extremely badly”.
“I call up France, Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly,” he said.
“Still recovering from the right to the jaw.”
Those comments appeared to reference an earlier viral clip in which Brigitte seemed to ‘push’ her husband’s face while they were arriving by plane in Hanoi, Vietnam.
However, sources at the Elysee told French media that the incident was simply ‘a moment in which the president and his wife were unwinding by goofing about one last time before the start of the trip’.
Macron later echoed that explanation, saying he and his wife were ‘just joking about as we do’, according to BBC News.