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Trump's handshake with Trudeau gets people talking

trump-trudeau Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office yesterday

US President Donald Trump's peculiar handshake has taken social media by storm. Trump's yesterday's meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began with a handshake that got everyone, from media to psychologists, talking. Social media is abuzz with praise for Trudeau for handling the 'handshake' well.

Caught on camera numerous times, the global media and Twitterers can't get enough of how Trump's handshake is different from what is considered normal and friendly. He starts by extending his hand out first. Then, he executes a firm grasp, along with a playful pat on the hand with his left hand. Every shake is actually a yank, trying to pull the person closer into Trump's personal space. He does this while maintaining eye-contact that usually lasts longer than it should.

People first took notice of it on the night of election, when Trump shook hands with Vice President Mike Pence. And then with Judge Neil Gorusch, when he was nominated for the US Supreme Court. Another occasion was on February 10, when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Oval Office and Trump gave him a 19-second-long handshake.

To Trump, the handshake, which is supposed to be a sign of peace and friendliness—that neither party is armed and has agreed to remain civil—could be a statement about himself.

With Trudeau, however, the handshake did not go as it usually does. As Trump tries the characteristic yanking, Trudeau stands firm and strong, placing his other arm firmly on Trump's arm on the biceps, administering a slight push. And with that move, the Internet fell in love with Trudeau again.

Numerous jokes and observations sprung up on Twitter about the meeting and Trump's handshake.

'Bone crusher' indicates Trump's personality

Scores of psychologists have said that the human handshake is a great revealer about one's personality. A 2014 study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, determined that the way a person shakes hands can “alter people's impressions” of that person, while also making a statement about how open, extroverted, positive and neurotic they are.

Psychologists deem Trump's as the 'dominator' handshake. Darren Stanton, a body language expert, said in a report that the President's handshake was all about “the assertion of power and control”.

Called a 'bone crusher' handshake, he aims to show power and confidence. Pulling the other person toward him can, according to Stanton, reveal to Trump about his or her personality. “For example, if someone was resistant to being yanked towards him and stood their ground, he would know that he has work to do with them before he got what he wanted.”

On the other hand, movement analysis specialist Karen Bradley said that the handshake displayed a lack of “cultural intelligence.” She added that the yanking “characterises Trump's world view: All flows towards him.” Another political psychologist claimed that Trump's patting with his left hand showed a “narcissistic tendency”.

Other unusual handshakes

Throughout history, presidential handshakes have been a significant indicator of the political atmosphere. For instance, the 2013 handshake between Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made headlines as it was the first such public gesture between an American and Cuban president since the Cuban revolution strained ties. The 2014 icy one between UK PM David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the beginning of further tension.

But some handshakes were funny or just plain awkward. Last year, Obama had a 'three-way' handshake with Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, and also with Australian PM Tony Abbott and Abe in 2014. Obama met Castro in Cuba in 2016, and their handshake went awry as Castro lifted Obama's left arm as if “declaring a winner in a boxing match”.

John Kerry, US secretary of state in 2013 had an awkward hug-kiss with then-French President Francois Hollande.

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