Donald Trump’s 5-word threat to Emmanuel Macron during tense handshake | World | News

President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to be engaging in a private war of words during a tense and riveting handshake onstage at a summit in Egypt on Monday promoting an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Years of tension between the two leaders oscillated between moments of friendship and seemingly hostile encounters; the latest occurred when Macron joined other nations in accepting a Palestinian state; Trump called it a reward for Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.

In Sharm El Sheikh on Monday, Trump and Macron held hands tightly for about 30 seconds while appearing to struggle for physical control during a photo opportunity. The news emerged after Keir Starmer was humiliated by Donald Trump for having to queue to shake hands.

According to a professional lip reader who observed the conversation, the two may have exchanged subtle warnings and accusations before agreeing to continue the conversation behind closed doors.

“Nice to see you, so you accept?” According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, Trump asked Macron this question as he joined him on the summit stage. Reflect the USA.

Macron responded as he turned away from the camera.

“Is it real?” Trump appeared to ask.

“Of course,” Macron replied.

Trump seemed to say, “Okay, now I want to know why. You hurt me. I already know.”

“I make peace.”

According to Hickling, Macron touched Trump’s hand and looked at him, saying “Excuse me.”

Trump appeared to ignore her request and gripped her hand even tighter. Macron said, “Let’s handle this behind closed doors.”

“I just hurt the other one,” Trump responded.

“I understand. We will have to see; you will see what happens,” Macron warned.

“I’d like to see him do that,” Trump said. “Do it. See you in a bit.”

According to the Egyptian presidency, the onstage photo opportunity was part of a summit co-hosted by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi that aims to “end the war in the Gaza Strip, step up efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability.”

20 world leaders attended the meeting, including the presidents of Qatar, Palestine, Turkey, Spain, England, Italy, Norway, as well as representatives of the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Particularly missing from the summit were Israeli officials and representatives from Hamas.

Hickling said Monday’s tense meeting between Macron and Trump continued a long tradition of theatrical diplomacy, describing it as an example of a “power play by touch.”

“The repeatedly extended, tight grips between these two have a clear history as theatrical diplomacy. The squeeze here (Trump shaking Macron’s hand as he speaks) reads as an attempt to physically dominate the interaction in a conciliatory/accusatory tone,” he wrote in an email to The Mirror US.

“This reflects the documented public handshake tussles between the pair.”

Hickling added that Macron appears to be in favor of de-escalating tensions as he tries to recover from the concussion.

“Touching the hand, looking down, and then turning away are classic appeasement/de-escalation movements and an attempt to distance oneself from physical domination,” he said.

“Excuse me” combined with turning away signals discomfort and a desire to break off the engagement.”

Hickling said there appeared to be a mismatch between Trump’s words and his body language.

Although he appeared to tell Macron that he was “making peace”, he opposed the idea by tightening his grip even further.

“This incompatibility raises the possibility that this is a theater of friendship mixed with a clear assertion of control,” he said.

Although the specific content of Monday’s discussion was not immediately clear, it followed a clash between the two leaders late last month over recognition of the Palestinian state.

“I think it honors Hamas, and you can’t do that because of October 7th. You can’t do that,” Trump told reporters in September in response to France’s announcement of support for Palestine. he said.

The number of global nations advocating for a Palestinian state now exceeds 145.

The USA is one of the few minority countries.

“Nobody forgets October 7, but what was the outcome after almost two years of war?” Macron responded. “This is not the right way to proceed.

“There’s one person who can do something about this [the war in Gaza]”This is the president of the United States,” Macron said in his statement to France’s BFMTV channel.

“And the reason he can do more than us is because we do not supply the weapons that would enable the war to be waged in Gaza. We do not provide the equipment that would enable the war to be waged in Gaza. The United States does.”