At an event celebrating the conclusion of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron were seen engaging in a tense handshake, with both leaders seemingly vying for dominance. The interaction, lasting nearly 30 seconds, took place during a summit in Egypt where discussions on Middle East peace were the focus.
A professional lip reader interpreted the exchange between the two leaders as containing subtle threats and accusations before they decided to continue their conversation in private. Trump and Macron seemed to exchange challenging remarks, with Macron suggesting resolving the matter behind closed doors and Trump responding assertively.
The summit, co-hosted by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aimed to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza and promote peace and stability in the region. Twenty world leaders, including representatives from Qatar, Palestine, Turkey, Spain, the UK, Italy, Norway, the United Nations, and the European Council, attended the meeting.
Notably absent from the summit were Israeli officials and Hamas representatives. The encounter between Macron and Trump was described as a display of “power play by touch,” reflecting a history of dramatic diplomatic gestures between the two leaders.
In analyzing the handshake, it was noted that Macron appeared inclined towards de-escalation, while Trump’s body language seemed incongruent with his words. The interaction between the two leaders was seen as part of a series of public handshake confrontations documented in the past.