WASHINGTON—We know President Trump is concerned with appearances — especially when he’s on television, or in front of news photographers or large crowds.
We also know that President Trump is concerned with hands — how large they are, how strong they are — just look at them!
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Trump is also a well-known germaphobe. He initially shunned shaking hands with supporters on the campaign trail. As president, protocol compels him to shake a lot of hands, though.
And recently, he’s taken part in a few handshakes that we’ll just call “intense” for now — most recently, a bizarre moment with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.
Whether it’s just habit, or a way of asserting his power, Trump has a habit of pulling forcefully on the hand he’s shaking. He’s done it in notable handshakes with Vice President Mike Pence (on election night), with Judge Neil Gorsuch (on the night Trump nominated Gorsuch to the Supreme Court) and this afternoon, with Abe.
Trump even took time out to compliment Abe’s “strong hands” — or maybe he was just referencing his own.
But Trump doesn’t always tug on the hands of those he’s greeting. When Kanye West visited Trump Tower in December, the two dapped like old friends.
While it’s admittedly a small thing, little glimpses into Trump’s thinking can give us an idea of how he handles these situations. But let’s be honest — we already knew Trump likes to be in control.
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