Just two months after criticizing French First Lady Brigitte Macron and her marriage to French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump sparked fresh attention at the 2026 G7 Summit in France with an awkward 14-second handshake that quickly went viral.
Trump greeted Brigitte with cheek kisses before holding onto her hand as she appeared to pull away, prompting mixed reactions online. The moment gained extra attention because of Trump’s recent remarks about the French first couple.
Professional lip reader Nicola Hickling later claimed Trump greeted Brigitte by saying, “Hello, sweetheart,” after telling Macron, “I’m ready for tonight” and “Pleasure.” Brigitte reportedly replied, “Happy birthday.” The interpretation has not been independently verified.
Body language expert Judi James also suggested Trump appeared more focused on Brigitte than Macron, noting that he continued holding her hand even as the group moved away.