"Each president gripped the other's hand with considerable intensity, their knuckles turning white and their jaws clenching and faces tightening."
After pictures surfaced online and an amusing pool report, the Internet had a field day scrutinizing their handshake.
The pool report noted both presidents' "considerable intensity" and clenched jaws.
Both presidents knuckles apparently went white during the tight grip, according to various observers. Trump — who is known for his intense handshakes — reportedly looked like he wanted to disengage from Macron at two different points.
Check out photos of their interaction below:
Initially, Trump and Macron seemed at ease when they shook hands before reporters and photographers in Belgium.
Soon, however, "each president gripped the other's hand with considerable intensity, their knuckles turning white and their jaws clenching and faces tightening," a pool report said.
"They shook hands for an extended period of time," according to the pool report, and Trump began looking visibly uncomfortable.
Trump reportedly tried to let go of Macron's hand twice while Macron continued holding tight.
The awkward interaction had Twitter lighting up. Sky News' Matt Stone likened the handshake to a competition.
"Battle of the handshakes: Macron beats Trump at his own gripping game during first meeting at Brussels NATO summit," read one tweet.
"Trump meets his handshake match in Emmanuel Macron," tweeted another user.
"Best thing about this is not the handshake itself but Macron acting like it's totally normal," tweeted BuzzFeed World editor Miriam Elder.
Other reporters also weighed in. "If relationships were defined by handshakes, then Trump & Macron's is gonna be fierce," tweeted Philip Rucker, the Washington Post's White House Bureau Chief.
Reuters called the interaction "a little handshake diplomacy."
"Each president gripped the other's hand with considerable intensity, their knuckles turning white and their jaws clenching and faces tightening." Read Full Story
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