Internet Responds To Trump ‘Dominating’ French President With Handshake

President-elect Donald Trump is making headlines on the global stage, with world leaders seemingly taking notice and aligning accordingly.

Trump attended the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in France on Saturday, a significant event that notably lacked the presence of President Joe Biden. Leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared enthusiastic to engage with Trump during the occasion.

However, it was the handshake between Trump and the French president that captured the most attention on social media.

“President Trump manhandles French President Emmanuel Macron with one of the most dominating handshakes I’ve ever seen. We are so back,” an X user remarked alongside a video of the moment.

Another user commented, “President Trump just made Macron his b*tch with one handshake.”

“It’s actually insane how Trump just walked into Macron’s home and took over the show. Macron and Zelensky are visibly nervous. No other American politician could’ve done this,” a third person on X wrote.

“President Trump is back to dominating world leaders with his handshake. Macron is going to need a hand massage after all that twisting and pulling Trump did to him,” another user joked.

Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson also weighed in during an interview with The New York Post. “Instead of a weak frail president who shuffles around, we have a president that’s engaged and demands respect. You can look at the body posture, you can look at the handshake and tell Trump and [President] Biden are very different men. The whole world can see just based on body posture that America is back,” he stated.

Gavin Wax, Chairman of the New York Young Republican Club, echoed similar sentiments. “It may seem like a little thing to most people, but President Trump’s seating at Notre Dame is indicative of a man the world respects and fears, and that American leadership is back front and center on the world stage,” Wax told The Post. He added, “His prominent and central seating is not something that would have been afforded to President Biden.”

During their meeting, President Macron extended warm remarks to Trump, saying, “It’s a great honor for French people to welcome you five years later. And you were, at that time, president for the first time. And I remember the solidarity and your immediate action. So, welcome back again. We are very happy to have you here.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later shared his thoughts on X, describing the encounter as “good and productive.” He said, “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace.”

In a press release, Zelensky reiterated, “We talked about our people, the situation on the battlefield, and a just peace for Ukraine. We all want to end this war as quickly and fairly as possible,” adding that both leaders had “agreed to continue working together.”

MSNBC correspondent Vaughn Hillyard commented on the prominence of Trump’s presence at the event. Speaking to anchor Yamiche Alcindor, Hillyard said, “I think that this is where when you are looking at some of these scenes here, I think it’s important to note, if I may, Yamiche, the seating arrangement. We were able to see a photo of the seating arrangement just before everybody started entering the cathedral. And President-Elect Trump is placed in the most prominent seat.”

Trump was met with cheers upon his entrance into the cathedral, a venue filled with global leaders and dignitaries, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.