Massive power move by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he gripped the finger of French President Emmanuel Macron during an unusual interaction at the European Political Community on the weekend.
Watch as Erdogan grabs Macron’s finger and holds onto it as the French President awkwardly tries to pull away:
🇹🇷🇫🇷Erdogan shows macron who’s boss and … holds his finger.
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 17, 2025
So why did Erdogan hold onto Macron’s finger like that? Online speculation is that Macron attempted to put his hand over Erdogan’s in a show of dominance, and Erdogan did not like this so he responded by holding onto his finger. If you watch the clip back, Erdogan does seem a bit surprised and miffed that Macron put his hand over his.
It’s not the first time Macron has been dominated in the political handshake game. Look at how Trump has been shaking the French President’s hand over the years:
President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron shared a 29-second handshake, marking the end of Trump’s trip to France in 2017. pic.twitter.com/zQ1BEaAeKK
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) May 5, 2024
Emanuel Macron takes Trump’s hand requesting a handshake and this is how Trump responds.
What do you make of this handshake? pic.twitter.com/blQAqBig7E
— Bret 🍁 (@Bret_Sears) December 7, 2024
What is it with powerful men and their little handshake dominance games eh?
For the time Joe Rogan detailed how he dealt with Donald Trump’s aggressive handshake at a UFC event, click HERE. You just know Rogan would be prepared for it.
