Former President Donald Trump, known for his self-proclaimed dealmaking skills, entered politics in 2015 with a declaration that he did not view himself as a traditional diplomat. Despite his assertions of fostering strong relationships with world leaders, his interactions have ranged from tentative to awkward and strained.
Notable incidents include a moment with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2017, where Trump seemed unresponsive when asked for a handshake during a photo op. At a NATO summit in Brussels, he made headlines by appearing to push past Montenegro’s Prime Minister to position himself prominently in a group photo.
Trump’s rapport with French President Emmanuel Macron has seen ups and downs, marked by lengthy handshakes and cheek kisses evolving into a publicly polite dynamic. Notably, Trump shared a private message from Macron on social media, hinting at Macron’s future exit from office.
The ex-president’s handshake style, characterized by pulling or yanking, drew attention following encounters with leaders like Japan’s Shinzo Abe and Paraguay’s Santiago Peña. His historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018 featured a quip about looking “nice and handsome” for the cameras.
Trump’s reference to a conversation with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö during the California wildfires sparked confusion, as Niinistö denied discussing forest management techniques. In a tense televised meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2025, Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy, leading to a public spat rarely seen between a US president and a foreign leader.
At the 2025 Gaza peace summit, Trump’s comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with a playful exchange with Canadian “president” Mark Carney, added moments of levity to diplomatic proceedings.
