A step-by-step guide to utterly botching a simple handshake photo op, by Donald Trump and Angela Merkel
Max Knoblauch
Updated
President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are two of the most powerful human beings on the planet.
Their influence alone has the potential to topple economies, start and end wars — to alter the very course of our species' existence. Anyway, the two figures met in Hamburg ahead of the G20 summit on July 6 and engaged in one of the worst handshake photo ops I've ever seen.
A handshake photo op works like this: You enter a room and stand in front of a backdrop or whatever.
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 06: German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives U.S. President Donald Trump in the Hotel Atlantic, on the eve of the G20 summit, for bilateral talks on July 6, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Leaders of the G20 group of nations are meeting for the July 7-8 summit. Topics high on the agenda for the summit include climate policy and development programs for African economies. (Photo by Jens Schluter - Pool/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
You stand normally for a second — not like this.
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 06: German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives U.S. President Donald Trump in the Hotel Atlantic, on the eve of the G20 summit, for bilateral talks on July 6, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Leaders of the G20 group of nations are meeting for the July 7-8 summit. Topics high on the agenda for the summit include climate policy and development programs for African economies. (Photo by Jens Schluter - Pool/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
No.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and US President Donald Trump pose for a photo prior to a bilateral meeting on the eve of the G20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany, on July 6, 2017. Leaders of the world's top economies will gather from July 7 to 8, 2017 in Germany for likely the stormiest G20 summit in years, with disagreements ranging from wars to climate change and global trade. / AFP PHOTO / Pool AP / Matthias Schrader (Photo credit should read MATTHIAS SCHRADER/AFP/Getty Images)
Image: AFP/Getty Images
You look at each other and clasp hands. This is okay I suppose.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and US President Donald Trump shake hands prior to a bilateral meeting on the eve of the G20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany, on July 6, 2017. Leaders of the world's top economies will gather from July 7 to 8, 2017 in Germany for likely the stormiest G20 summit in years, with disagreements ranging from wars to climate change and global trade. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Michael Kappeler (Photo credit should read MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images)
Image: AFP/Getty Images
And then you just ... look generally toward the cameras. No, this is not correct.
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 06: German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives U.S. President Donald Trump in the Hotel Atlantic, on the eve of the G20 summit, for bilateral talks on July 6, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Leaders of the G20 group of nations are meeting for the July 7-8 summit. Topics high on the agenda for the summit include climate policy and development programs for African economies. (Photo by Jens Schluter - Pool/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
You just have to ... no, not this ... you just look in the same direction.
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 06: German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives U.S. President Donald Trump in the Hotel Atlantic, on the eve of the G20 summit, for bilateral talks on July 6, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Leaders of the G20 group of nations are meeting for the July 7-8 summit. Topics high on the agenda for the summit include climate policy and development programs for African economies. (Photo by Jens Schluter - Pool/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
Hm. No, not quite. Maybe just do neutral expressions, maybe that's easier?
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 06: German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives U.S. President Donald Trump in the Hotel Atlantic, on the eve of the G20 summit, for bilateral talks on July 6, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Leaders of the G20 group of nations are meeting for the July 7-8 summit. Topics high on the agenda for the summit include climate policy and development programs for African economies. (Photo by Jens Schluter - Pool/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
Forget it! Who cares. This is good enough, whatever.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and US President Donald Trump shake hands prior to a bilateral meeting on the eve of the G20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany, on July 6, 2017. Leaders of the world's top economies will gather from July 7 to 8, 2017 in Germany for likely the stormiest G20 summit in years, with disagreements ranging from wars to climate change and global trade. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Michael Kappeler (Photo credit should read MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images)
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