US Politics
What Trump and Xi’s ‘power-play’ handshake reveals about the world leaders
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President Donald Trump was met by China’s beaming premier Xi Jinping on the steps of the Great Hall of the People on the first day of his highly-anticipated state visit.
With much at stake during the trip, from international trade to the future of global conflicts, commentators were quick to pour over their every gesture and none more so than their initial handshake.
Body language experts noted that it was Trump, emerging from his motorcade onto the red carpet in Tiananmen Square Wednesday, who instigated the greeting
The two leaders maintained their grip for a full 10 seconds, before the American leader reached across with his left hand to pat Xi gently five times.
There was no “big, fat hug,” however, despite Trump promising as much on social media beforehand.
Experts say it is typically the host who initiates such greetings in an often-unthinking attempt to assert authority, making Trump’s forthright approach unusual.
Peter Collett, an author, psychologist and former Oxford don, told Newsweek that the Chinese leader’s passive, calm demeanour during the exchange “gives the impression that Trump is doing all the work, both literally and figuratively.”
“Trump did not deploy his usual ‘yank-shake’ handshake style in this meeting, which he typically uses to assert dominance,” he added.
“There appear to be two occasions when he doesn’t do this – either when there’s no need to be overbearing or when he considers the other person to be his equal, or at least doesn’t want to disturb the illusion that that’s how he thinks of them.”
Dr Lillian Glass, speaking to The Mirror, meanwhile noted that Trump “leaned in towards Xi, showing warmth and closeness” during the handshake.
She also noted the president’s squint and pursed lips, commenting: “This is not something we see expressed in Trump very often. It indicates that this is one of the most serious trips he is having, and he is not taking it lightly.”
The president’s forefront approach was similar to that on show when he greeted King Charles III in Washington, D.C., recently. He has previously taken the same tack when receiving other strongman leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
After their handshake, Xi went on to greet members of Trump’s entourage including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while the president met their counterparts.
The leaders then took part in a formal troop review as the anthems blared and cannon fire sounded, before turning to observe a welcoming crowd of flag-waving children, a site that evidently delighted Trump and caused him to break out into a smile and applaud, after which he was seen patting Xi’s arm in an apparent gesture of warmth.
Trump and Xi first met when the president visited China during his first term and they have appeared together seven times in all, most recently last October at a summit in Busan, South Korea.
Isabelle Vladoiu, a business etiquette expert and founder of the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, told The New York Post she had noticed there was more “chemistry” in evidence between the two men Wednesday than there was during their first encounter.
“Compared to the more conservative and rigidly ceremonial interaction in 2017, tonight’s ceremony appeared significantly more jovial, conversational, and personally interactive,” Vladoiu said.
“The handshake was longer, the two leaders continued speaking while greeting and walking together, and Xi Jinping – who is typically extremely reserved in public protocol settings – spent considerable time personally engaging with President Trump throughout the ceremony.”
The pair subsequently headed inside for bilateral talks, which Trump began by telling Xi it was “an honor to be with you” and “to be your friend,” pledging that the relationship between their two countries “is going to be better than ever before.”
He also drew his counterpart’s attention to the “greatest businessmen… the best in the world” he had invited along as part of his team to promote trade between the superpowers, with Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang among them.
Xi subsequently warned the U.S. that China’s tension relationship with Taiwan should not be “mishandled,” while both parties agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened by Iran to allow for the free flow of energy.