US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic history is replete with clumsy handshakes; the recent addition to the norm is by the First Lady of Poland who smoothly avoided shaking Trump’s hand.
The latest fumble in Trump’s political interactions occurred when the president and First Lady were greeting the Polish President Andrzej Duda and his wife, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, in Poland on Thursday; Kornhauser-Duda appeared to pass over the president and instead shook Melania Trump’s hand, although they did shake hands later.
Videos of the moment spread all over the internet like a wildfire showing the president turning toward Kornhauser-Duda for a handshake as she very conveniently walks by him; her swift dodge can be seen leaving Trump disgruntled staring blankly past her.
However, following the mainstream news depicting Kornhauser-Duda rejecting Trump’s handshake, President Andrzej retweeted the video clarifying that it was fake news as her wife did shake hands with Mrs. and Mr. Trump.
Contrary to some surprising reports my wife did shake hands with Mrs. and Mr. Trump @POTUS after a great visit. Let's FIGHT FAKE NEWS.
— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) July 6, 2017
Reminiscing the president’s uncomfortable history, comes the 19 seconds long apparently forceful handshake with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in February.
There was also that time in January when Trump held on to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s hand as they walked the White House colonnade.
Whereas, the most controversial became the president’s refusing to shake German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s hand in March, despite her actually asking him to do so for a photo op. And who can forget the Melania’s slapping away Trump’s hand in Israel.
A new talk has begun of what the handshake between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will look like on Friday (today), when the two meet for the first time during the G20 forum in Germany.
Like always Trump’s latest awkward interaction has given a treat to social media users making funny satires and memes.
I love that this failed Trump handshake in Poland is already a gif. Thank you, millennials. pic.twitter.com/5Kwm3eBMac
— OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) July 6, 2017
And then there are clarifications,
Fake news edited a video that implied Pres. Trump was denied handshake in Poland. Polish First Lady did shake Trump's hand, see full video! pic.twitter.com/ltCzfOoa8o
— Tennessee (@TEN_GOP) July 6, 2017