When Donald Trump extended his hand to Vladimir Putin at their highly anticipated meeting in Geneva, no one expected what came next. The former U.S. president’s infamous handshake style — the sharp tug or “yank” — made its dramatic return, and within seconds, the moment went viral across the world. Cameras caught Trump pulling Putin’s hand toward him in a forceful gesture that left observers wondering: was this a show of dominance, or did Putin ultimately win the power play?
Social media erupted immediately, with countless clips of the handshake being slowed down, zoomed in, and analyzed like a prizefight replay. On Twitter, one commentator wrote: “That wasn’t a handshake, that was a tug-of-war for global dominance.” Others suggested Putin’s stoic expression revealed who really controlled the exchange, regardless of Trump’s theatrics.
The Trump-Putin handshake is making the rounds again. Trump yanks, Putin resists, and the world debates who just alpha’d who. pic.twitter.com/Hb9X1s0c0z— Global Politics Watch (@GlobePolWatch) August 16, 2025
Handshakes have long been Trump’s signature display of power. During his presidency, his unusual habit of pulling world leaders’ arms toward him became a viral talking point, especially after his first encounter with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. That 19-second handshake left Abe visibly uncomfortable, and many analysts said Trump used the gesture as a deliberate intimidation tactic. Now, with Putin — a leader who thrives on projecting dominance — the move carried even greater symbolic weight.
According to The New York Times, the Geneva meeting was already fraught with tension before the handshake even occurred. Both leaders entered the summit seeking leverage: Trump, eager to prove he can control outcomes Biden failed to manage, and Putin, determined to show he will not bow to American pressure. The handshake became the first battleground, setting the tone for the hours of discussions that followed.
But unlike past leaders caught off guard by Trump’s tug, Putin remained utterly unshaken. He kept his body rigid, leaning slightly forward into the handshake rather than being pulled off balance. On Russian state television, anchors replayed the footage as evidence of Putin’s composure, framing it as a win for Moscow. RT commentators described it as “a moment where Trump tried to dominate, but Putin did not budge.”
Body language experts weighed in almost instantly. Patti Wood, a communication specialist known for analyzing political encounters, told NBC News: “Trump’s yank is an old dominance trick. But Putin neutralized it by locking his shoulders and maintaining eye contact. That’s a subtle but powerful way of saying: ‘You don’t move me.’”
Body language experts are having a field day. Was Trump’s yank a dominance move or did Putin’s poker face win the moment? pic.twitter.com/tc8o2e6xKk— Politics Unfolded (@PolUnfolded) August 16, 2025
American media largely portrayed the handshake as another example of Trump’s theatrics. CNN ran a segment comparing Trump’s past “yank” handshakes with global leaders, splicing footage of Abe, Emmanuel Macron, and Justin Trudeau alongside Putin’s moment. The montage fueled speculation about whether Trump rehearses these gestures as a deliberate psychological tactic or simply does them instinctively.
On The Guardian, journalist Julian Borger suggested the encounter was emblematic of the broader Trump-Putin dynamic: “This was not just two men shaking hands. It was two nuclear powers testing each other’s resolve in a single grip.” He added that the absence of even the slightest smile from Putin indicated a refusal to let Trump control the narrative.
Trump supporters, however, celebrated the yank as proof of his strength. At a rally later that evening, Trump boasted about the handshake to his cheering crowd. “Did you see it? Strongest handshake you’ve ever seen. Putin didn’t know what hit him,” he declared. The crowd roared in approval, with chants of “USA, USA” echoing through the venue.
Meanwhile, Russian analysts spun the story differently. On TASS, Kremlin-linked commentators argued that Trump’s need to yank showed “insecurity” and revealed “who was really trying hardest to assert dominance.” One political scientist told the outlet: “Putin doesn’t need to pull. His power is understood without theatrics.”
Russian state TV: “Trump pulls because he must prove himself. Putin stands firm because his dominance is already accepted.” pic.twitter.com/vmWncptWgh— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) August 16, 2025
The cultural obsession with Trump’s handshakes is not new. As Business Insider has noted, Trump himself once admitted that he puts thought into his handshakes, claiming that “you have to be strong” when meeting world leaders. He has also said he dislikes weak grips, equating them with weakness of character. To Trump, the handshake is more than courtesy — it is a test of strength.
But many experts argue that such antics are outdated in global diplomacy. “The handshake obsession is juvenile,” said Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group, speaking on MSNBC. “Modern diplomacy requires trust-building and dialogue. A yank handshake may win applause at a rally, but it doesn’t resolve nuclear standoffs or territorial disputes.”
Still, the handshake dominated news coverage far more than the actual policies discussed at the meeting. Headlines from Reuters and BBC both featured the handshake prominently, underscoring how symbolic gestures can overshadow substance in the Trump era. For many viewers, the question of who “won” the handshake seemed more pressing than whether progress was made on Ukraine or arms control.
Public opinion polls conducted by Pew Research revealed a split along partisan lines. Among Republicans, 68% believed Trump came across as the stronger leader in the handshake, while only 12% credited Putin. Among Democrats, the numbers were reversed, with 71% saying Putin looked more composed and dominant compared to just 14% for Trump.
Polls show Americans divided over the Trump-Putin handshake: strength vs composure. Once again, interpretation depends on politics. pic.twitter.com/bGLNsmHTM7— US Politics Polling (@USPollsOnline) August 16, 2025
Even late-night comedy hosts weighed in. On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert mocked the moment by exaggerating the handshake into a full-on wrestling match, complete with commentary. “It was like two dads at a barbecue fighting over who gets the last burger,” he joked. The bit quickly gained millions of views online, reinforcing how much cultural weight the handshake carried beyond politics.
But beneath the humor lies a serious undertone. Diplomats fear that Trump’s focus on symbolic gestures could complicate negotiations on life-or-death issues. As one EU diplomat told The Financial Times: “When the world’s two largest nuclear powers meet, we should be talking about arms treaties, not arm yanks.”
Nevertheless, the handshake has now entered the archive of iconic Trump moments. Just as his stare-downs with Kim Jong-un and his awkward encounters with NATO leaders became defining images, the yank with Putin will likely be replayed in documentaries and campaign ads for years to come.
For Trump, the moment was a performance designed to signal strength to his base. For Putin, it was an opportunity to project calm defiance in the face of provocation. And for the rest of the world, it was a reminder that even a handshake between these two men can carry the weight of global rivalry — and leave millions of people debating who truly held the upper hand.
