Leave it to Justin Trudeau to Shut Down Trump’s Weird Bullying Handshake Technique

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Donald Trump today to discuss Canadian-American trade, strengthening the countries’ ties, and empowering women in business. But the really important (at least in measuring importance by number of minds lost on Twitter) stand-out moment from the entire meeting was this glorious picture:

Whether or not this quick candid shot really does reflect Trudeau’s inner monologue of reluctance and disgust (which, okay, it probably actually doesn’t), it sure reflects what most of us feel at the thought of being offered that hand.

Maybe even better, though, is this video of the two shaking hands, in which Trudeau appears to be entirely prepared for Trump’s weird, macho handshake techniques.

Trump’s inability to not turn a simple handshake into a blatant power move got a lot of attention this weekend after Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe, had the absolute best recovery face after an exceedingly awkward 19-second handshake. Then Last Week Tonight compiled a montage of Trump apparently trying to rip arms out of their sockets, you know, just in case everyone watching wasn’t already aware of what a *big man* he wants to make sure we know he is.

You can’t pull that stuff with Trudeau, though. The man came prepared. Just watch the moment when Trump clearly makes his standard yank and Trudeau alternately pulls back and gently pushes to make sure this remains a normal handshake as human adults are meant to do.

President Trump welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the White House. https://t.co/n7TqA3VDnW pic.twitter.com/5TcpyDfZx5

— ABC News (@ABC) February 13, 2017

Once Trump’s handshake pissing contest was out of the way, hopefully he was able to actually have some productive policy meetings. (Hey, we can dream.)

(image via Shutterstock)

—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Follow The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google+.

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Vivian Kane

Vivian Kane (she/her) is the Senior News Editor at The Mary Sue, where she's been writing about politics and entertainment (and all the ways in which the two overlap) since the dark days of late 2016. Born in San Francisco and radicalized in Los Angeles, she now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she gets to put her MFA to use covering the local theatre scene. She is the co-owner of The Pitch, Kansas City’s alt news and culture magazine, alongside her husband, Brock Wilbur, with whom she also shares many cats.

twitter