Trump shuns shaking Merkel's hand during Oval Office encounter (VIDEO)
US President Donald Trump ignored repeated media prompts to shake hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during their meeting in the Oval Office.
Trump greeted Merkel with a handshake outside the building, but during their Oval Office photocall, apparently ignored the calls of the pool of reporters to shake the German leader’s hand.
READ MORE: ‘Immigration is a privilege, not a right,’ Trump tells Merkel in first meeting
The rebuff even drew an amused expression from the chancellor.
AP footage of the leaders’ encounter inside the Oval Office captures someone off-screen repeatedly calling out “Handshake!” amid the clicking of cameras.
Although Merkel looks to Trump a number of times during the photo call, the president doesn’t budge.
The pair later held a joint briefing discussing NATO, immigration, and free trade. At one point, Trump joked about his accusations that his predecessor ‘wiretapped’ Trump Tower, saying that he and Merkel, who was the target of NSA spying under Obama, “at least have something in common”.
'Being #wiretapped by the previous President' is 'one thing that perhaps we have in common' - #Trump to #Merkelhttps://t.co/G9Xx3prDAspic.twitter.com/3tYjkuJxlq
— RT America (@RT_America) March 17, 2017
Trump later posted a photo of himself and the chancellor shaking hands during the press conference on his Facebook page.
Trump’s awkward Oval Office handshake evasion drew a mix of amusement and exasperation online.
Trump's refusal to look Angela Merkel in the eye or to shake her hand belies his abject disrespect for all women. Today we are all Angela. pic.twitter.com/0vlXIBuSFP
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 17, 2017
We, I guess you can add Germany to the list of countries 45 has offended. #trumpmerkel#handshakegatepic.twitter.com/CCJ6EJLPDQ
— Truth Reigns (@FrReigns) March 17, 2017
BREAKING: Exclusive look at Angela Merkel's mind while Trump was being a jackass pic.twitter.com/2v1E2mqOfu
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) March 17, 2017
Dozens of Americans tweeting me about how embarrassed they are by how Trump treated German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Don't worry, we know.🙌 pic.twitter.com/LLRDeBzChN
— Aaron Vallely (@Vallmeister) March 17, 2017
The.
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 17, 2017
Looks.
On.
Their.
Faces.
Merkel: “Do you want to have a handshake?”
Trump: [crickets. scene.] pic.twitter.com/LLFxuyGDY0
German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Trump: “Do you want to have a handshake?”
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 17, 2017
Trump’s response: *crickets*https://t.co/SM9M8S8mjApic.twitter.com/JY60uElrNJ
