Trump wants to demonstrate his power – Merz reacts quickly
- Lena Lackermeier
Lena Lackermeier
During the greeting between Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump on Thursday in front of the White House, there was a brief showdown between the two heads of state – in which the Chancellor did not allow himself to be intimidated by the US President.
In his greeting, the president attempted to demonstrate his power in true Trump fashion. He shook Merz's hand firmly and pulled him toward him. But the chancellor reacted quickly and copied the gesture, smiling amiably. A draw. The US president failed to throw Merz off track with the "Trumpshake."
The term describes an energetic, forceful handshake, popularized by Trump. The 78-year-old regularly uses it to intimidate his counterpart. A well-known example is the handshake with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in February 2017 – it lasted 19 seconds, and Abe appeared visibly relieved when his arm was free again.
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