What is it with Trump and handshakes? This is getting awkward

[ailsagirl]

An opinion piece that is perceptive and well-written as any professional article. IMO

=snip=

...German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Trump are seated in the Oval Office in yellow chairs that seem color calibrated to match Trump’s yellow hair. While photographers are wildly snapping photos, someone off camera suggests a handshake which grows into a chorus of “Handshake? Handshake?” Merkel turns to Trump and asks, “Do you want to have a handshake?”

Trump says nothing, does nothing, and just stares straight ahead. He sits with that signature pout on his lips, legs splayed out, and posture bent forward. In fact, he sits like the men who take up two seats on the subway, a means of transportation I’m sure he’s never used. Merkel then offers a slight shrug and turns her head away.

Now, it’s possible that Trump simply didn’t hear Merkel, though the chorus calling for a handshake was unmistakable. But it’s also true that Trump’s lack of a handshake with Merkel is yet another reminder of the vast differences between Merkel’s Germany, widely seen as today’s valiant protector of the global liberal order, and Trump’s America, a country ruled by a populist plutocrat whose policies feature building walls on borders, barring the entry of refugees, and ending Meals on Wheels for the needy.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/18/trump-handshakes-angela-merkel-awkward

[madokie]

1. tRump is an embarrassment to our country

and if he had a lick of sense, also to himself. Being the doofus he is I'm sure he has a plan for why he acts this way. A plan only he knows

[enough]

2. People seem to think Trump doesn't know what to do in the situation.

He is doing exactly what he means to do and what he has planned to do with his handlers. He is conveying on purpose that he has no respect for leaders of other countries and no respect for the established rules and decorum of diplomacy.

It's a very graphic and deliberate symbol. It's America First and everybody else can kiss his ass. He doesn't need no stinkin statesmanship. He's Number One.

[Warpy]

3. He did shake her hand at first greeting

Her arm was very close to her body, as though she was bracing for his juvenile, macho grab and jerk.

I don't think he has a clue what to do with any woman who isn't a starlet or model he's trying to fuck.

Listening to any woman has never entered his small mind.

[milestogo]

4. Wasn't W kind of paranoid about catching germs shaking hands?

While W was squeamish about the unwashed masses, Trumpy avoids contact with the leaders of allied nations.

[OnDoutside]

5. Maybe he didn't want people to see his hands were smaller

Than hers ?

[red dog 1]

6. Drumpf heard Merkel ask if he wanted to have a handshake.

If it had been Putin, he would definitely have had a hand shake.

He is a germophobe too, so that may have been part of why he just ignored Merkel's question.

Too bad we can't exchange leaders with Germany:
Merkel could become POTUS, and Drumpf could become Chancellor of Germany, just like his hero Adolph Hitler was.


K&R!

[LisaL]

8. He has shaken hands with people.

So being a germophobe doesn't fly as an excuse.

[cwydro]

12. He shook hands with Merkel at their first greeting.

So at least he did it once.

[kimbutgar]

7. Germaphobe's don't shake hands

Cheeto was not as touchy feels as Hillary was inthe election. Cheeto don't like touching the peasants.

[LisaL]

9. He shook hands with a number of politicians. You missed all these photo ops?

So WTF are you talking about?

[kimbutgar]

10. Politicians yes, common folk no. Only awkward hugs.

And I think your comment was rude to me.

[LisaL]

11. Merkel is politician, not a common folk.

[Ms. Toad]

13. Nonsense.

He uses handshakes as a form of displaying his domination. Regularly.

My guess is that he saves his displays of domination over women for when he believes no one is looking - his "locker room banter."

Not to mention that most of the world leaders seem to have picked up on it, and have figured how to thwart it by bracing themselves, and grabbing his shoulder to prevent being tugged into his lap.

Imagine his supreme embarassment if he attempted is domination move on Merkel and she was prepared to resist . . .