A visual history of Trump's most awkward handshakes

Tender? Maybe. Aggressive? Probably. Awkward? Absolutely.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump.
(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

The art of the handshake is a difficult one to perfect. Growing up, we're often taught that the best kind of handshake is one administered with a firm grip, accompanied by brief pump and a quick but direct dose of eye contact. Don't go limp like a fish, they say. But don't squeeze so hard your new acquaintance loses all feeling in their fingers, either. There are a lot of rules when meeting someone new, and in many ways, a handshake is an exercise in moderation and personal judgment. Indeed, your unique handshake style says a lot about you.

Which is why, perhaps, we're so obsessed with President Trump's bewildering glad-handing technique. It's been analyzed and critiqued from all angles, both mocked as weak and lauded as legendary. And since he assumed office, he's had many a strange handshake (and hand-holding) encounter with fellow world leaders.

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