http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-trudeau-macron-handshakes-1.4639718
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· CBC News· Posted: Apr 28, 2018 4:00 AM ET
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U.S. President Donald Trump gets hands-on with French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in the Oval Office April 24, 2018. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
It was clear, watching both Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron shake hands for the first time with Donald Trump, that each had prepared for the moment.
Trump's notorious grip-and-drag-down handshake already had been widely analyzed as a display of dominance (as in his arm-wrenching grip with Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch).
The French and Canadian leaders were determined to avoid playing the beta to Trump's alpha. (Macron managed it again during his recent visit to the White House, despite that weird dandruff-flicking gesture by Trump). Both have successfully evaded Trump's attempts to drag them under in public. But they do it in different ways.
"Body language experts" around the world praised Trudeau's deft handling of the Trump paw during his visit to the White House in February, 2017. It was "a master class in getting it right," Judi James told the U.K.'s Daily Express.
"Trudeau disarmed Trump at their first meeting by getting in too close to fall victim to Trump's notorious power shake or shake-and-yank combos that were diminishing the status of other world leaders on their first visits to the White House. His canny arm-pat on the president's bicep suggested Trudeau was the one in control."
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)Macron also avoided being dominated during his first encounter with Trump in Brussels a year ago — but he did so by trying to dominate right back.
Here's what the pool report for the encounter said: "Each president gripped the other's hand with considerable intensity, their knuckles turning white and their jaws clenching and faces tightening."
"Trump seems to just want his hand back," another reporter in the room tweeted.
Macron was open about his approach with a reporter for the Journal du Dimanche: "My handshake with him, it's not innocent. It's not the alpha and the omega of politics, but a moment of truth."
The two approaches could almost serve as metaphors for how Macron and Trudeau have chosen separately to handle the world's most prominent bull in a china shop. Trudeau responds by "getting in too close" for the president to land any heavy blows, while Macron is more willing to go toe-to-toe and wrestle.
"I think Mr. Trudeau is a lot closer to Washington both metaphorically and physically, and that makes all the difference," said David Shribman, syndicated columnist and executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"Where you stand depends on where you sit. And Mr Trudeau sits in Ottawa and not in Paris."
While France and the U.S. are important allies which frequently act in concert (as in the recent attack on Syria), they are not joined at the hip economically as the U.S. and Canada are.
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French President Emmanuel Macron's trip to Washington marks the first state visit for the Trump White House. The two presidents may disagree on a number of key issues, but both leaders see the visit as an opportunity to strengthen their own political profiles. 2:04There is no single overriding issue between the two countries to which all other issues take a back seat. In Canada, there is: the renegotiation of NAFTA.
The Trudeau government has applied its "sunny ways" doctrine to the whole relationship with the Trump administration in an obvious effort to avoid becoming the focus of Trump's ire.
That approach extends to letting slide even public provocations — like Trump's admission in March that he lied in a meeting with Trudeau about a U.S. trade deficit with Canada. Canadian officials react to such episodes with private bemusement and public silence.
Trump's public expressions of fondness for Trudeau ("my newfound friend ... a very good guy, good-looking") are similar to those he now expresses about Macron ("He is perfect").
Trump has often suggested that the physical appearances of men are as important to him as those of women in assessing their worth or suitability for high office.
During the presidential campaign, Trump famously suggested that Republican rival Carly Fiorina was not good-looking enough to get elected. "'Look at that face!" he said on live television. "Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?"
Recently, when stumping for Republican Rick Saccone in western Pennsylvania, he dissed the face of the conventionally-handsome Democrat candidate, Conor Lamb.
"I hear he is nice looking," Trump said. "I think I am better looking than him … Personally, I like Rick Saccone. I think he is handsome."
When alphas collide: how Trudeau and Macron handle Trump's displays of dominance
The handshakes tell you a lot about how the 3 countries see each other
· CBC News· Posted: Apr 28, 2018 4:00 AM ET
2473 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Mike Trout
David Amos
@Mike Trout Methinks Mr. Dyer is a really big fan of Trudeau The Younger N'esy Pas?
Jack Pott
Sorry Evan, Trudeau is certainly not Alpha, this is abundantly clear whenever he opens his mouth and speaks. Trust fund beta is more like it.
Richard Sharp
@Greg Crompton
CBC’s comment sections stopped being “classy” years ago.
CBC’s comment sections stopped being “classy” years ago.
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Richard Sharp Methinks you jest too much The comment sections never had any class in the first place N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@Jack Pott Oh my my what an interesting name you have N'esy Pas?
Darren MacDonald
@David Amos There are a few funny ones here. I like the sitcom handles, lol
David Amos
@Darren MacDonald Methinks you would had a great chuckle at my reply to Mr Sharp that CBC blocked N'esy Pas?
Marshall Whyte
"When alphas collide"? Justin? You have got to be kidding. Perhaps "When narcissists collide" would have been more fitting.
Richard Sharp
@Marshall Whyte
The party of one guy takes the cake for narcissism among all PMs in my elephant-like memory. :)
The party of one guy takes the cake for narcissism among all PMs in my elephant-like memory. :)
David Amos
@Richard Sharp Need i say Me Too?
My elephant-like memory affirms that the young Greek Narcissus has nothing on Harper the King of Canadian Right Wingnuts
My elephant-like memory affirms that the young Greek Narcissus has nothing on Harper the King of Canadian Right Wingnuts
David Amos
@Robert Greene Methinks the dumb Maritimer GB is a puppet just like his Quebecois boss JT . The Libs have many leaders not just one. The Quebecois JC and two Maritmers FM and DL are at the top of the roster N'esy Pas?
@Gordon MacFarlane "Now, anything else?"
Google "Harper and Bankers"
and get back to me will ya?
Google "Harper and Bankers"
and get back to me will ya?
David Amos
@Richard Sharp I post proof of what I say is true all the time and you ignore it and in fact have never even responded.
David Amos
@Marc Henry I will debate you in a heartbeat
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![Marc Henry]()
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Bill Nazarene
@Marc Henry
"What bugs me is he's not even here to actually debate anything with people like you and I."
Some people are just there to be laughed and pointed at. They're not laughing with you, Cletus.
You are very welcome...
"What bugs me is he's not even here to actually debate anything with people like you and I."
Some people are just there to be laughed and pointed at. They're not laughing with you, Cletus.
You are very welcome...
Marc Henry
@Bill Nazarene
I'm very glad you are keeping that in mind, Bill.
I'm very glad you are keeping that in mind, Bill.
David Amos
@Marc Henry Me Too
Roland Reimer
Trudeau handles Trump?
What colour is the sky on your planet?
What colour is the sky on your planet?
Richard Sharp
@Roland Reimer
Trudeau is widely recognized as one of the best in the world in terms of maintaining good relations with Trump and the USA.
Trudeau is widely recognized as one of the best in the world in terms of maintaining good relations with Trump and the USA.
David Amos
@Richard Sharp Methinks Trudeau "The Elder" taught his son that we are like a mouse in bed with an elephant. N'esy Pas?
Mr. Dyer said
"While France and the U.S. are important allies which frequently act in concert (as in the recent attack on Syria), they are not joined at the hip economically as the U.S. and Canada are."
I say Trudeau "The Younger" has no choice in his actions. He must follow the plans of the puppet masters within the liberal party who put him in power.
Mr. Dyer said
"While France and the U.S. are important allies which frequently act in concert (as in the recent attack on Syria), they are not joined at the hip economically as the U.S. and Canada are."
I say Trudeau "The Younger" has no choice in his actions. He must follow the plans of the puppet masters within the liberal party who put him in power.
Patrick in Victoria
@David Amos You keep saying n'esy pas in your comments on multiple stories. As a courtesy, that's not how it's spelled.
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Patrick in Victoria That is exactly how a Maritimer teasing nasty French men spells it. Furthermore who are you to criticize me?
CBC has rules that clearly state you are not allowed to make comments with such an ID
"To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted."
CBC has rules that clearly state you are not allowed to make comments with such an ID
"To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted."
David Amos
@Patrick in Victoria Interesting name you have
"To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted."
"To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted."
David Amos
@Rob Lehtisaari Methinks folks should avoid the planet you came from no matter what colour its sky is N'esy Pas?
hans grubermeister
A pampered entitled ethics violator referred to as an “Alpha”??
Atley Chapman
@Dary Moed
I wouldn't offer my hand to a shark
I wouldn't offer my hand to a shark
David Amos
@Atley Chapman Nor I
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True However Lets talk a little history. Methinks the awful truth is nobody seems to care anyway. FYI it was kinda obvious to me that George Soros and the backroom boys in red coats planted Iggy in the Liberal Party. When Harper prorogued parliament to save his butt in the PM hot seat Iggy and his old pal Rae did a really fine job of stabbing Dion in the back. Later when Harper was found in contempt Iggy did a really fine job assisting Harper to win a majority mandate. Then Trudeau "The Younger" stepped up to the plate and supported Bill C 51 etc. Now these days your read coat pals are supporting Trump's attack on Syria and another Cold War with Russians N'esy Pas?
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David Amos
@Richard Sharp "Harper’s contempt of Parliament conviction, the first one in the history of the Commonwealth, was easily a hundred times more serious than Trudeau’s petty ethics violations"
True However Lets talk a little history. Methinks the awful truth is nobody seems to care anyway. FYI it was kinda obvious to me that George Soros and the backroom boys in red coats planted Iggy in the Liberal Party. When Harper prorogued parliament to save his butt in the PM hot seat Iggy and his old pal Rae did a really fine job of stabbing Dion in the back. Later when Harper was found in contempt Iggy did a really fine job assisting Harper to win a majority mandate. Then Trudeau "The Younger" stepped up to the plate and supported Bill C 51 etc. Now these days your read coat pals are supporting Trump's attack on Syria and another Cold War with Russians N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@Gordon MacFarlane "Harper being held in contempt of parliament was a crass and desperate bit of political posturing that so offended Canadians that they returned Harper with a stronger mandate than he previously enjoyed. "
Too Too Funny Indeed
Too Too Funny Indeed
David Amos
@Gordon MacFarlane Harper didn't win that election Iggy gave it to him on a silver platter. The big winner was the flash in the pan known as the NDP
Marshall Whyte
Well, our Prime Minister is dreamy and does hot photo shoots for Vogue. What more could a member of Generation Selfie want in a leader?
David Amos
@Marshall Whyte I give up. You tell me.
Paul Reed
I remember way back when I was in my teens, shaking hands with an individual that shook hands in the same manner as DT, with that drag down finish, as if he were trying to impress me with his manliness.
And I also remember thinking to myself.....What an a.....e.
And I also remember thinking to myself.....What an a.....e.
Nelson Barley
@Paul Reed
An ambush handshake says more about the ambusher.
An ambush handshake says more about the ambusher.
David Amos
@Nelson Barley Methinks real alpha males agree with you sir. Such men have no need to prove who they are N'esy Pas?
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Greg Gore (formerly Greggore)
![Bill Nazarene]()
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Greg Gore (formerly Greggore)
I'd sooner have Trump as our leader than Trudeau
Bill Nazarene
@Greg Gore (formerly Greggore)
Trump certainly does embolden the ignorant and hateful.
Trump certainly does embolden the ignorant and hateful.
David Amos
@Bill Nazarene True
Robert Campbell
Trudeau is the polar opposite of alpha male.
David Amos
@Robert Campbell YUP
.. Kevan Cleverbridge (Hill 70)
Trump shacking the hands of these two feminists proved one thing and one thing only,Trump is still the alpha male.
Rudy Baker
@Kevan Cleverbridge (Hill 70)
Being an alpa male and thinking you are one are two completely different things.
Being an alpa male and thinking you are one are two completely different things.
David Amos
@Rudy Baker Oh so true
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David Amos
@Bernard Cloutier Methinks the only Alpha Males she knows are her bodyguards N'esy Pas?
Donald Patrick
Trudeau? An Alpha? Bwahahahahahahah, bwahahahahahahahahah!
David Amos
@Donald Patrick Your reaction was better than mine. I almost choked on my coffee.
Methinks Mr Dyer is pretty funny sometimes N'esy Pas?
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Methinks Mr Dyer is pretty funny sometimes N'esy Pas?
Darren MacDonald
@David Amos "Your reaction was better than mine. I almost choked on my coffee."
Don't go near food or drink when reading articles.
Don't go near food or drink when reading articles.
David Amos
@Tanner Moorman Kinda redundant aren't ya?
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Ken Likness
@David Amos
Trump is expressing too big an interest in other mens physical appearance if you ask me. While he doesnt exactly swoosh he has many typical female like reactions when he doesnt get the response he wants.
Trump is expressing too big an interest in other mens physical appearance if you ask me. While he doesnt exactly swoosh he has many typical female like reactions when he doesnt get the response he wants.
David Amos
@Ken Likness Methinks the way he does his hair would make any Alpha Male want to avoid him N'esy Pas?
Michael Ehrmantraut
Trudeau. Alpha! Hahahahahahahahaha
Danny Tanker
@Michael Ehrmantraut
"Trudeau. Alpha! Hahahahahahahahaha"
Ok, you have the floor, tell us all why you think Trudeau is not an alpha male, I can't wait to read your "opinions" on the subject.
"Trudeau. Alpha! Hahahahahahahahaha"
Ok, you have the floor, tell us all why you think Trudeau is not an alpha male, I can't wait to read your "opinions" on the subject.
David Amos
@Danny Tanker How can an alpha male be a feminist?
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Darren MacDonald
@David Amos "How can an alpha male be a feminist?" I'm guessing because it's 2018.
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Tanner Moorman Kinda redundant aren't ya?
David Amos
@Tanner Moorman Why are you allowed to be redundant?
David Amos
@Michael Ehrmantraut Methinks my calling him Trudeau "The Younger" is fair play because Petey Boy Mansbridge of CBC said it first N'esy Pas?
Clint Allen
Trudeau is a narcissist with an inferiority complex.
I'm sure everyone has met someone like him.
He wants and needs everyone to like him and craves admiration.
He will tell anyone anything they want to hear so they will like him.
I'm sure everyone has met someone like him.
He wants and needs everyone to like him and craves admiration.
He will tell anyone anything they want to hear so they will like him.
Goodbye Gye
@Clint Allen pick one or the other........he can't be both '''''''narcissist? maybe, we all are to some degree.'''''''inferiority complex? not on your life, maybe just maybe a superiority complex
Patrick Ko
@Goodbye Gye
of course he can be both... it appears he is... Trump too i think.
of course he can be both... it appears he is... Trump too i think.
David Amos
@Patrick Ko I agree
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James Watson
![James Watson]()
![Scott Telfer]()
![David Amos]()
James Watson
Why do most articles that feature Justin sound like they should be buried deep in some old issue of Cosmo? They guy is the poster boy for form over function.
James Watson
@Scott Telfer
So you admit that Trudeau is as bad or worse than Trump?
So you admit that Trudeau is as bad or worse than Trump?
Scott Telfer
@James Watson
Are you familiar with something called sarcasm?? (hint...I'm using it now...)
Are you familiar with something called sarcasm?? (hint...I'm using it now...)
David Amos
@James Watson Survey Says?
John Young
To call Justin an alpha male is like referring Gomer Pyle to Rambo.
David Amos
@John Young Methinks there was no need to insult Gomer Pyle that Yankee seemed like a very decent dude N'esy Pas?
Reg Crewe
WOW, CBC paid someone to write this crap.
Mike Hawke
@Reg Crewe
CBC is a publicly funded broadcaster so technically you paid.
Your tax dollars at work :)
CBC is a publicly funded broadcaster so technically you paid.
Your tax dollars at work :)
David Amos
@Mike Hawke Sad but oh so true
Debbie Gilbert
Really CBC??? And you get my hard earned money for these fluff pieces?
David Amos
@Andy Bryski "(unless indicated otherwise)"
FYI I know only one other guy who listens to CBC on a regular basis .
So how much is that per listener?
FYI I know only one other guy who listens to CBC on a regular basis .
So how much is that per listener?
Bob Charron
Trudeau may be a lot of things but he is no alpha male. Pass the Tissues please.
David Amos
@Bob Charron True
Dale Verigan
A feminist alpha male. That's a first.
David Amos
@Dale Verigan I have been pointing out that oxymoron all day but only one fella noticed
Peter Lewis
Remember folks....we pay close to a billion a year for this high quality journalism.
Brian Cohen
@Peter Lewis
And yet here you are with over 1630 posts.
Can you spell hypocrisy??
And yet here you are with over 1630 posts.
Can you spell hypocrisy??
Joan MacDonald
@Brian Cohen
He's paying for it, he has every right to voice his opinion.
He's paying for it, he has every right to voice his opinion.
David Amos
@Joan MacDonald I agree
Mark Seward
Trudeau alpha? LOL Good one, CBC.
David Amos
@Mark Seward Methinks CBC does offer some pretty fine comedy N'esy Pas?
When alphas collide: how Trudeau and Macron handle Trump's displays of dominance
The handshakes tell you a lot about how the 3 countries see each other
It was clear, watching both Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron shake hands for the first time with Donald Trump, that each had prepared for the moment.
Trump's notorious grip-and-drag-down handshake already had been widely analyzed as a display of dominance (as in his arm-wrenching grip with Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch).
The French and Canadian leaders were determined to avoid playing the beta to Trump's alpha. (Macron managed it again during his recent visit to the White House, despite that weird dandruff-flicking gesture by Trump). Both have successfully evaded Trump's attempts to drag them under in public. But they do it in different ways.
"Body language experts" around the world praised Trudeau's deft handling of the Trump paw during his visit to the White House in February, 2017. It was "a master class in getting it right," Judi James told the U.K.'s Daily Express.
Coming to grips with Trump
"Trudeau disarmed Trump at their first meeting by getting in too close to fall victim to Trump's notorious power shake or shake-and-yank combos that were diminishing the status of other world leaders on their first visits to the White House. His canny arm-pat on the president's bicep suggested Trudeau was the one in control."
Here's what the pool report for the encounter said: "Each president gripped the other's hand with considerable intensity, their knuckles turning white and their jaws clenching and faces tightening."
"Trump seems to just want his hand back," another reporter in the room tweeted.
Macron was open about his approach with a reporter for the Journal du Dimanche: "My handshake with him, it's not innocent. It's not the alpha and the omega of politics, but a moment of truth."
"I think Mr. Trudeau is a lot closer to Washington both metaphorically and physically, and that makes all the difference," said David Shribman, syndicated columnist and executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"Where you stand depends on where you sit. And Mr Trudeau sits in Ottawa and not in Paris."
While France and the U.S. are important allies which frequently act in concert (as in the recent attack on Syria), they are not joined at the hip economically as the U.S. and Canada are.
The National
Macron trip marks 1st state visit for Trump White House
00:0002:04
The Trudeau government has applied its "sunny ways" doctrine to the whole relationship with the Trump administration in an obvious effort to avoid becoming the focus of Trump's ire.
That approach extends to letting slide even public provocations — like Trump's admission in March that he lied in a meeting with Trudeau about a U.S. trade deficit with Canada. Canadian officials react to such episodes with private bemusement and public silence.
Being 'good-looking' helps
Trump's public expressions of fondness for Trudeau ("my newfound friend ... a very good guy, good-looking") are similar to those he now expresses about Macron ("He is perfect").
Trump has often suggested that the physical appearances of men are as important to him as those of women in assessing their worth or suitability for high office.
During the presidential campaign, Trump famously suggested that Republican rival Carly Fiorina was not good-looking enough to get elected. "'Look at that face!" he said on live television. "Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?"
Recently, when stumping for Republican Rick Saccone in western Pennsylvania, he dissed the face of the conventionally-handsome Democrat candidate, Conor Lamb.
"I hear he is nice looking," Trump said. "I think I am better looking than him … Personally, I like Rick Saccone. I think he is handsome."
ABTL 2019