Trump Awkwardly Arm Wrestles With French President Macron in Paris

President-elect Donald Trump seemed to white-knuckle French President Emmanuel Macron as they shook hands in Paris on Saturday, ahead of the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral.

The visit was Trump’s first trip abroad since winning the 2024 presidential election, and the diplomatic reunion also included an impromptu trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was Zelensky’s first in-person conversation with the U.S. president-elect since Trump’s victory in November.

Trump reportedly arrived 40 minutes late for his meeting with Macron, and he gave the French president a characteristically intense handshake.

The arm-wrestling photo op resembled a similar interaction between the two world leaders when Trump shook Macron’s hand with such intensity that the Frenchman was forced to lean into Trump.

Journalist Piers Morgan pointed out the déjà vu moment to his followers on X, writing, “I’ve missed the Trump-Macron arm-wrestles,” alongside a video of the men aggressively holding hands.

Macron and Trump have long been rumored to be “frenemies.” Shortly after Trump’s re-election, the French leader was accused of dissing the president-elect for his legal woes.

“Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,” Macron posted to X.

His use of the word “convictions” left social media commentators speculating if the French president was trolling Trump’s multiple felony convictions and criminal cases. However, Macron’s comms team quickly dispelled the rumor.

Despite online speculation, Trump praised Macron ahead of his Paris visit for doing a “wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so.”