President Donald Trump delivered one of his signature uncomfortable handshakes on Monday, June 15, 2026, this time holding French first lady Brigitte Macron’s hand for approximately 13 seconds during the G7 summit in Evian, eastern France. The prolonged greeting came weeks after Trump publicly mocked the Macrons’ marriage, adding an extra layer of awkwardness to the diplomatic encounter.
The interaction began normally enough, with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanging a relatively quick and standard handshake. But the mood shifted when Trump greeted Brigitte Macron with the customary kiss on each cheek while taking her hand—and then refused to let go.
As President Macron placed his hand on Trump’s back, the American president continued gripping the French first lady’s hand, shaking it repeatedly while speaking to the couple. After the trio posed for photographs, Trump took Brigitte Macron’s hand once again as he continued the conversation. The entire exchange was captured on camera and quickly circulated on social media, with one user on X describing it as Trump’s “weird handshake tug of war.”
Trump has never before engaged in such an intense handshake with France’s first lady, though he and her husband have shared numerous awkward greetings over the years. The two leaders have gone viral multiple times for their tug-of-war style handshakes, including several long and uncomfortable encounters during Trump’s first presidential term.
In 2017, the two leaders went viral twice for their long and awkward handshakes during Trump’s first term as president, including one that lasted nearly 30 seconds. Their first meeting that year in Brussels produced a white-knuckled, prolonged grip that set the tone for their complicated relationship. At a 2017 NATO summit, Trump twisted the French president’s limb and yanked it forcefully enough to pull him off balance.
The two presidents also shared a lengthy handshake in Egypt just last year, continuing the pattern of physically competitive greetings. Yet their relationship has not been entirely adversarial. In 2017, Trump traveled to France for the country’s national celebration, where the two couples dined together at the Eiffel Tower, and later Trump invited the French president as the featured guest for his administration’s inaugural formal state reception. But as Trump’s presidency progressed, their once-friendly relationship deteriorated amid disputes over trade policy, eastern European security, and Middle Eastern military conflicts.
This week’s encounter was particularly uncomfortable given comments Trump made about the Macrons’ marriage in April. Speaking at a private event when he rebuked France for failing to assist the United States in Iran, Trump took aim at the French presidential couple.
“I call up France, Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly,” Trump said in April. “Still recovering from the right to the jaw.”
The remarks referenced viral footage from last year showing Brigitte Macron appearing to aggressively push her husband’s face away as they disembarked their presidential jet in Vietnam. Emmanuel Macron later insisted the two had been joking and responded to Trump’s comments by saying they were “neither elegant nor up to standard.”
Trump’s recent unusual handshake occurred while he has been dealing with noticeable bruising on his hand. The White House initially said the marks resulted from “shaking hands all day, every day,” but later admitted they are also caused by Trump’s use of aspirin, which he takes at a daily dose of 325 milligrams. Trump frequently covers the bruises with makeup, but they remain noticeable in many photographs.
Some medical professionals have questioned the high aspirin dosage. Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a medical analyst, said earlier this year that such a dose “makes no sense” from a medical standpoint.
The G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains brought together leaders from seven major advanced economies: France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan. Alongside Trump and Macron, the gathering included British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The forum exists to coordinate policy among the world’s leading democratic economies, addressing issues ranging from global economic stability and international security to climate change, trade and development. While not a treaty-based organization, the G7 serves as an important venue for consensus-building on major global challenges.
At this year’s summit, Trump faced expected friction with multiple partner nations, especially regarding the Iranian situation and Atlantic partnership issues. Trump arrived at the G7 looking for diplomatic momentum after announcing a deal to end the Iran war, though disagreements with European partners over the conflict and other issues continue to strain relationships.
The awkward handshake moment added yet another chapter to the ongoing saga of Trump’s unconventional diplomatic style, which has included everything from his physical dominance displays with other world leaders to his willingness to publicly criticize allied heads of state and their spouses. As cameras captured the 13-second grip with Brigitte Macron, observers were reminded once again that Trump’s approach to international diplomacy often plays out literally hand-in-hand with physical symbolism.