Trump And Macron's Handshake Lasts 30 Seconds During Bizarre Farewell

United States President Donald Trump’s two-day trip to Paris to meet with newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron culminated Friday with a Bastille Day parade attended by both world leaders and their wives. The event boasted no shortage of spectacles — including a French military performance of hits from electronic duo Daft Punk — but discourse around the event quickly shifted to the bizarre, 30-second farewell handshake between Trump and Macron.

Read: Macron Explains Tense Handshake With Trump, Calls It 'Moment Of Truth'

While their remarks over the course of Trump’s European visit were amiable, their body language told another story Friday as the Trumps bid farewell to the French leader and his wife. In a 30-second exchange captured on video, Trump and Macron could be seen engaging in what appeared to be a battle of the wills. Each gave off apparent plays for power that included pats on the hand as well as arm gripping and slapping.

The farewell handshake between President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron lasted about 25 seconds https://t.co/8CfUqfRZ8z pic.twitter.com/ddfJiJDv1i

— CNN (@CNN) July 14, 2017

Both seemed unwilling to let go of the hand of the other. At one point Trump — still holding onto one of Marcon’s hands — pulled France’s first lady into the fray and kissed her once on each cheek so loudly the intention can be heard in video of the event.

The lengthy handshake — or perhaps more appropriately, full-bodied hand embrace — smacked of the kind of machismo for which Trump has become notorious in his dealings with fellow world leaders. Trump had a similar exchange with Macron during their first meeting at a NATO summit in May, with the two exchanging for cameras a strained, white-knuckled handshake. Macron later told a French newspaper that the exchange “wasn't innocent” and described it as a “moment of truth.”

Trump attended Friday’s Paris event as the French president’s guest of honor, as the event celebrated both the important French holiday as well as the 100th anniversary of the United States entering the First World War. Macron gave a speech following the extravagant Bastille Day parade in which he doubled down on previous comments that the two world powers represented diplomatic allies.

“The United States is one of our friends. Nothing will separate us ever,” Macron said. “The presence at my side of Donald Trump and his wife is a sign of our friendship that travels time. I want to thank them here, thank United States for the choice made over 100 years.”

Read: Trump's Handshake With Emmanuel Macron Was 'Aggressive Move,' Expert Says

Taking to his preferred method of information dissemination Friday, Trump tweeted, “It was a great honor to represent the United States at the magnificent #BastilleDay parade. Congratulations President @EmmanuelMacron!”

He later tweeted, “Great conversations with President @EmmanuelMacron and his representatives on trade, military and security.”