Political Tribune

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Trump Tries His Awkward Power Handshake With King Charles—And Charles Was Having None Of It

A rare unscripted moment

586
586 points

Donald Trump has been deploying his trademark power handshake on world leaders for decades, yanking arms, extending grips and generally using the greeting as a dominance exercise disguised as diplomacy.

On Monday at the South Portico of the White House, King Charles III, 77 years old and representing a monarchy that has outlasted every American president in history, grabbed back and did not let go for nearly ten seconds.

Video footage of the greeting showed Charles approaching Trump’s outstretched hand and matching it with equal vigor, holding the grip for a full ten seconds while the cameras rolled.

Queen Camilla and Melania Trump exchanged a warm la bise beside them, which was considerably less analyzed.

Online, the verdict was swift and largely unanimous.

The visit is the first state trip to America for Charles and Camilla as monarchs, timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as “really symbolic of the strength of our relationships through very, very many generations,” adding that the UK wanted to “celebrate a 250th anniversary of what was effectively our defeat.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his refusal to commit UK military forces to the US-Israeli effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing Britain’s leader as “not Winston Churchill.”

He also threatened new tariffs on the UK just days before the royal arrival if London does not drop its 2% Digital Services Tax on American social media companies. “We’ve been looking at it and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the U.K., so they better be careful,” Trump told reporters Thursday.

Trump has spoken warmly about Charles personally, repeatedly calling him a “great guy” and referencing his September state visit to Windsor Castle as “amazing.”

The personal affection between the two men has been genuine enough to survive the political turbulence, which is why Buckingham Palace accepted the invitation and why UK lawmakers calling for cancellation were ultimately overruled.

Featured image via X screengrab 

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Terry Lawson

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Terry is an editor and political writer based in Alabama. Over the last five years, he’s worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for a range of companies, helping shape voices and tell stories that connect. Now at Political Tribune, he writes sharp political pieces and edits with a close eye on clarity and tone. Terry’s work is driven by strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a clear sense of purpose. He’s skilled in writing, editing, and project management — and always focused on getting the message right. You can find him on X at https://x.com/TerryNotTrump.

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