On ‘Radio Times’: The Trump-Macron Handshake-off

Amidst the big stories that arose from President Trump’s European visit – his chastisement of NATO allies, his firm language regarding German trade practices, Merkel’s comments regarding the U.S.’s unreliability – his behavior among the European leaders was also noteworthy. 

There was the viral moment of Trump pushing aside the President of Montenegro for a photo-op. Trump’s now-famous handshake took center stage when France’s new President, Emmanuel Macron, deliberately matched Trump’s rough grip in a show of strength. 

On Radio Times Tuesday, host Marty Moss-Coane was joined by Nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, Judy Dempsey.  She discussed the symbolism behind the Trump-Macron handshake, saying “[Macron] was completely right to be firm with President Trump.”  Dempsey pointed out that Trump backed Macron’s opponent, Marine Le Pen in the recent election, despite saying otherwise and noting that “Macron had [Russian] President Putin in the Versailles Palace Monday. Wasn’t it interesting  that Russia supported the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, head of the National Front, to be the next President of France, and so did Trump.”