Kicking off their four-day state visit, King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the US yesterday (27 April).
With a bit of small talk and photos on the South Lawn, Donald and Melania Trump greeted them at the White House.
And as the President seemed to appear to try out one of his ‘trademark’ handshakes, it’s said the King pulled a power move back on him.
Trump is known for accompanying the shake with a pull of the other person, bringing them closer to him sharply for a longer time to attempt to establish dominance.
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But it’s been said that Charles wasn’t going to be having any of that as a body language expert has pointed out a key detail to suggest the US President is treating him a little differently.
Speaking on behalf of Press Box PR, Darren Stanton acknowledged that Trump is well-known for his ‘very firm handshake’.
He explains that the President used an ‘open palm gesture’ when greeting the King which is to do with ‘honesty and transparency’.
“If you zoom in on the handshake between him and King Charles, he does use this ‘push pull’ technique to show assertiveness, but he didn’t pull him back and forth to the degree he does with politicians, which suggests he actually admires the King somewhat,” Stanton says.
“Trump didn’t try any overbearing techniques he usually does with any other politicians. This shows an immense amount of respect for the monarch: to do the open palm gesture was quite significant from Trump.”
The body language expert then says that while shaking hands, the President gives a ‘tap' with his left hand on the King’s.
“In certain contexts, that could be considered a power gesture to undermine, but because Trump didn’t do this back and forth technique, it’s a way of building rapport and Trump and to show he has respect for the King,” Stanton says.
Online, users said it would be ‘so disrespectful’ if the President tried to do his classic ‘power handshake’ with the King.
Back when he tried to pull a similar one on French President Emmanuel Macron it turned into an 'arm wrestle' which Trump wasn't winning against the younger man.
The awkward moment went on for almost half a minute and the tension was palpable between the pair, with it being said it became a bit of a fight for control between the two.
But hey, Trump it seems is more of a people pleaser when it comes to the royals, wanting to show his respect.
Topics: Donald Trump, Royal Family, Politics
Jess Battison