General Discussion

irisblue

(38,089 posts) Mon Jun 15, 2026, 12:12 PM 5 hrs ago

Did anyone see if the apricothellbeast tried that handshake game with President Macron again?

Examples of what I meant

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40077241

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2017/may/25/macron-trump-handshake-battle-video

https://theconversation.com/the-psychology-behind-trumps-awkward-handshake-and-how-to-beat-him-at-his-own-game-73143

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6 replies

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Highlight:

Did anyone see if the apricothellbeast tried that handshake game with President Macron again? (Original Post) irisblue 5 hrs ago OP

I saw him do it with the guy who greeted him at the airport, in Switzerland. yellow dahlia 5 hrs ago #1

I just saw that PatSeg 5 hrs ago #2

Roy Cohn taught the marmalade shartcannon Brother Buzz 4 hrs ago #4

Thanks PatSeg 4 hrs ago #5

I would just give it a shake and drop my hand. ENOUGH! CTyankee 5 hrs ago #3

It's actually an old intimidation tactic GenThePerservering 2 hrs ago #6

yellow dahlia

(6,780 posts)

1. I saw him do it with the guy who greeted him at the airport, in Switzerland.

Reply to irisblue (Original post)

Mon Jun 15, 2026, 12:24 PM

5 hrs ago

PatSeg

(53,873 posts)

2. I just saw that

Reply to irisblue (Original post)

Mon Jun 15, 2026, 12:27 PM

5 hrs ago

It is still so incredibly weird. I wonder where he learned that. I've never known anyone who did that.

Brother Buzz

(40,548 posts)

4. Roy Cohn taught the marmalade shartcannon

Reply to PatSeg (Reply #2)

Mon Jun 15, 2026, 12:48 PM

4 hrs ago

He was famous for doing the same shit back in the day and it was called the "Roy Cohn handshake".

Google AI:

The "Roy Cohn handshake" refers to a firm, often physically aggressive grip that Cohn used to assert dominance and establish control. As a notorious political fixer and lawyer, Cohn believed in projecting absolute strength and taught his associates—most famously a young Donald Trump—to project power and aggressively counter-attack.

This specific type of handshake embodies his aggressive personal brand, which heavily influenced the political and business demeanor of his proteges. Additionally, historical photographs frequently capture him demonstrating this signature move, such as a well-known image of Cohn shaking hands with President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office.

PatSeg

(53,873 posts)

5. Thanks

Reply to Brother Buzz (Reply #4)

Mon Jun 15, 2026, 01:23 PM

4 hrs ago

I had a suspicion that Roy Cohn was behind it and Trump appears incapable of unlearning anything.

I've known people who subtly squeeze someone's hand too hard or perhaps a slight tug, but they rarely do anything so conspicuous to people who are watching. Sadly, he thinks it gives him some kind of masculine edge, but it only makes him look like a goofy cartoon character. It is right up there with the "longer ties make me look thinner"; of course, they don't, but he keeps doing it. He CAN'T unlearn things.

CTyankee

(68,582 posts)

3. I would just give it a shake and drop my hand. ENOUGH!

Reply to irisblue (Original post)

Mon Jun 15, 2026, 12:28 PM

5 hrs ago

GenThePerservering

(3,965 posts)

6. It's actually an old intimidation tactic

Reply to irisblue (Original post)

Mon Jun 15, 2026, 02:44 PM

2 hrs ago

not invented by Roy Cohn

ETA: The tug o' war with King Charles was pretty funny, though - despite his arthritic hands, Charles exerted just the right amount of back pressure to pull Dump to a standstill - and there is Dump trying and trying to yank back on Charles, and Charles just standing there smiling genially.

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