Trump, Putin Handshake Sparks Twitter Reaction After Back-Pat

The much-anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin provided no shortage of fodder for the internet — especially when it came to the two leaders’ handshake. Twitter and other social media platforms had much to say about the interaction, as is often the case in Trump’s moments with other leaders.

The pair shook hands Friday ahead of a G20 summit meeting in Hamburg, Germany. Trump and Putin met briefly to speak before the bilateral talks scheduled for later in the day. In a video from the interaction, they are both be seen smiling, and Trump could also be seen patting Putin on the back after the rather informal handshake.

Read: Twitter Reacts To Trump Handshake Snub By Polish First Lady

“I look forward to all meetings today with world leaders, including my meeting with Vladimir Putin,” Trump posted on Twitter Friday. “Much to discuss. I will represent our country well and fight for its interests.”

Social media was flooded with descriptions of what it called “the handshake the world has been waiting for.” Many users commented on the fact that Trump didn’t appear to shake hands in his usual manner.

“Interesting… he got that handshake right,” one Twitter user wrote about the interaction between Trump and Putin.

“Anyone else notice that Trump didn’t use his normal handshake with Putin? Weak,” wrote another.

But Trump supporters on Twitter came to the defense of the president by declaring there was nothing to analyze about the meeting.

“Trump shakes Putin’s hand. Media: It was a secret code handshake. They’re up to something. Impeach!” one person tweeted.

Twitter has always found ground in Trump’s handshakes. When the first lady of Poland, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, appeared to snub Trump when he went for a handshake Thursday, the Twitterati didn’t hold back.

The Polish president later took to Twitter to say that his wife did shake hands with both Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, concluding with “let’s FIGHT FAKE NEWS.”

Other Trump handshakes have been called “aggressive,” including the one with French President Emmanuel Macron in May. That handshake was scrutinized by the internet after the two appeared to be locked in a sort of tug-of-war. Macron later said the handshake was a “moment of truth.”

Read: Macron Calls Handshake With Trump ‘Moment Of Truth’

“My handshake with him, it wasn’t innocent,” Macron said. “One must show that you won’t make small concessions, even symbolic ones, but also not over-publicize things, either.”

Trump had another interesting handshake in February when he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The handshake went on for almost 19 seconds and it appeared Abe rolled his eyes after it was finally over.