An extended departing handshake between President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron was mockingly timed by MSNBC on Friday afternoon, with anchor Katy Tur saying the two leaders were “enjoying new romance.”
“Right before leaving France, President Trump and French President Macron, who seemed to be enjoying new romance, began to press the flesh and wouldn’t let go,” said Tur.
{mosads}
“The latest handshake that was seen around the world lasted nearly 30 seconds,” the anchor continued as a clock graphic counted the seconds of the handshake. “There was a lot of leaning in with President Trump at one point using his other hand to pat Macron on the chest,” Tur continued.
“He even brought in Brigitte Macron in for a three-way handshake and makes you wonder what is next? Arm wrestling?” she asked.
It’s not the first time a handshake between the two world leaders raised eyebrows. They shared an intense one at their first meeting in May.
Trump on Friday proclaimed on Twitter that the U.S. relationship with France is “stronger than ever” in a photo caption of Trump, wife Melania and the French leader and his wife before dinner at the Eiffel Tower on Thursday night.
“Great evening with President @EmmanuelMacron & Mrs. Macron,” Trump wrote on Twitter Friday morning.
Trump and Tur often clashed on the campaign trail in 2016, with the candidate dubbing Tur “Little Katy” and “a third-rate journalist.”