Video footage has emerged online showing France’s newly elected president Emmanuel Macron appearing to dodge U.S. President Donald Trump to hug German Chancellor Angela Merkel instead at the NATO summit in Brussels on Thursday.
In the clip, Macron walks up a red carpet toward a group of world leaders. He seems to be making a beeline for Trump, whose hands are outstretched, apparently in anticipation of a warm welcome.
But just feet away, Macron deftly swerves and embraces German Chancellor Angela Merkel instead. He then shakes hands with other leaders, before eventually entering into another fierce handshake-off with Trump.
À Bruxelles, unis avec nos alliés de @NATO. pic.twitter.com/7nyaoI8hki
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 25, 2017
It’s Trump’s latest embarrassing encounter on his first big trip abroad as president.
Macron shared the video via his official Twitter account late Thursday.
His post is now going viral, with many fellow tweeters appearing to appreciate his apparent throwing of shade:
À Bruxelles, unis avec nos alliés de @NATO. pic.twitter.com/7nyaoI8hki
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 25, 2017
@EmmanuelMacron @NATO Macron ignored #45 & shook his hand last. Didn't shove him aside the way he did to the gentleman from Montenegro.https://t.co/lBcmwMxBWn
— Welansa Asrat, MD (@Dr_Asrat) May 25, 2017
@RationalPanic – cool dude M. Macron. That swerve to avoid the clutches of Trump & shake Merkel's hand first was quite a manoeuvre … 😁
— Rosh 🇪🇺 (@roshbeth) May 25, 2017
I'd like to see other world leaders follow Macron's example – walk towards Trump, body-swerve , greet someone else. He'd hate it.
— Joan Smith (@polblonde) May 25, 2017
The 'Macron swerve' – fakes out Trump and goes for Merkel. Clear reciprocity for the 'Montenegro shove'. https://t.co/xPd3tQd6X9
— W1Girl (@W1Girl) May 26, 2017
@Vallmeister @EmmanuelMacron This is priceless! From the swerve, to how many hands he shakes before trumps, to trump then trying to pull him in forcefully….
— Nicole Burns (@NicoleBurns9) May 25, 2017
