The first meeting between President Trump German Chancellor Angela Merkel got off to an “awkward” start, according to several members of the media on Friday.
During a brief photo opportunity in the Oval Office, Trump and Merkel were sitting next to one another. They indicated that their meeting so far had gone well and Trump told the photographers, “Send a good picture back to Germany.”
At one point Merkel reportedly asked Trump for a handshake. Trump seemed to ignore the request and the two continued to sit for a few moments until the press was ushered out.
Afterwards, multiple journalists, as well as several other Twitter users, remarked about and made fun of the “awkward” nature of the photo opp. Yahoo News’ Garance Franke-Ruta went as far as to call it an “Amazing diplomatic snub.”
No handshake. No talking to one another.
That Trump-Merkel pool spray was pretty awkward. —via @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/DIkEyfNJUq
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 17, 2017
He won’t look directly at her or talk to her. Amazing diplomatic snub. https://t.co/Sy9utzvy6O
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) March 17, 2017
The.
Looks.
On.
Their.
Faces.
Merkel: “Do you want to have a handshake?”
Trump: [crickets. scene.] pic.twitter.com/LLFxuyGDY0
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 17, 2017
President Trump just met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and he looks ecstatic pic.twitter.com/aJx7yFSpRU— Mark Berman (@markberman) March 17, 2017
Photographers: Can we get a handshake?Merkel (to Trump): Do you want to have a handshake?Trump: *no response*Merkel: *makes awkward face* pic.twitter.com/ehgpCnWPg7— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 17, 2017
Photographers: Can we get a handshake?
Merkel (to Trump): Do you want to have a handshake?
Trump: *no response*
Merkel: *makes awkward face* pic.twitter.com/ehgpCnWPg7— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 17, 2017
