14.05.2026 10:41
Donald Trump's handshake with Chinese President Xi Jinping became a worldwide topic. It was notable that Xi Jinping did not respond to Trump's "hand pull" move, which the US president uses as a "power display" with world leaders. This brought to mind similar scenes years ago with President Erdoğan, who also did not allow Trump's power show.
Donald Trump became the first US President to visit China after an 8.5-year gap. Trump, who went to the capital Beijing, was welcomed with an official ceremony by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
After a meeting lasting approximately two hours, the two leaders together visited the historic Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Xi Jinping gave Trump a tour of the temple.
NOTABLE MOVEMENT IN THE HANDSHAKE
A moment captured by cameras during the visit caused a wide stir on social media. Trump was seen trying to pull Xi Jinping's hand toward himself during the handshake. However, Xi Jinping's refusal to let go of his hand drew attention.
Trump's forceful handshakes with many world leaders and his motion of pulling the other person's hand toward himself had long been interpreted as a "method of establishing dominance."
HANDSHAKE WITH ERDOGAN CAME TO MIND
Trump's handshake with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May 2017 also came back to the agenda. The images of Erdogan countering Trump's hand-pulling move and disrupting his show of strength were widely discussed at the time.