Trump in excruciating 30-second handshake with Macron while kissing French president's wife

Leaders’ handshakes have undergone striking evolution

Their first handshake was a genuinely white-knuckle affair, with Emmanuel Macron gripping hold tightly of Donald Trump in order to let him know if was a “ a moment of truth”. Since then, they’ve worked on their greetings, appearing much more at ease, and a little less macho.

When they shook hands after Mr Macron and his wife, Brigitte, met Mr Trump and Melania at Les Invalides in Paris this week, it appeared to last considerably longer than their first – long enough, indeed, for Mr Trump to tell the French First Lady she was in “great shape”.

Yet nobody was ready for the most recent Trump-Macron poignee de mains, a strange, shifting coming together that appeared to have a life of its own. Many who witnessed the handshake, as the men walked down the Champs-Élysées, said it looked awkward.

But it appeared anything but awkward for Mr Trump, who was so at ease with his French host and the Bastille Day crowds, that the handshake lasted up to 30 seconds.

Twelve seconds into the handshake - by now with the two men on the move - Mr Trump puts one hand on Mr Macron’s chest. A few moments later, he places his left arm on the shoulder of Ms Macron, while still holding on her husband with his right.

Then he briefly takes the French First lady with both hands, while Mr Macron keeps holding onto Mr Trump’s right hand as well. Finally, with the timer on 28 seconds, Mr Trump grips Mr Macron’s hand once more, taps his fingers and finally lets him go. A full half-minute of presidential flesh-pressing has taken place

It is difficult to know what Melania Trump made of this manual ménage à trois. She was watching and smiling a full 30 seconds before her husband and the Macrons appeared to realise she was there. Then they held hands with her too.