U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged an unusually long handshake during the G7 summit in Evian, France.
The interaction quickly went viral online, drawing significant attention to the interpersonal dynamics between the two leaders during a high-stakes diplomatic gathering.
The encounter took place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 [1], as the leaders met for the summit in Evian. Footage of the greeting captured a moment of perceived awkwardness, characterized by the extended duration of the handshake before the two men released their grip.
Social media users reacted quickly to the video, with many highlighting the length of the gesture. The moment became a focal point of online discussion, contrasting the formal requirements of the G7 summit with the visible tension or hesitation displayed during the greeting.
The G7 summit serves as a primary venue for the world's leading industrialized nations to coordinate policy. While the summit's official agenda focuses on global stability and economics, the optics of leader interactions often signal the state of bilateral relations.
Neither the U.S. nor the French presidency has issued a formal statement regarding the specific nature of the handshake. The event remains a subject of digital analysis as observers scrutinize the body language of both Trump and Macron.
“An unusually long and awkward greeting”
While a handshake is a standard diplomatic formality, the viral nature of this specific interaction suggests a heightened public and media sensitivity to the personal rapport between the U.S. and French leadership. In diplomacy, non-verbal cues are often interpreted as proxies for political alignment or friction, meaning this moment may be viewed as a reflection of the current state of U.S.-France relations.
