# Handshake! Handshake? "They want us to shake hands." Trump refusing to shake hands with Merkel **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436 "2017-03-17T20:28:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/61 "2017-03-19T10:18:48Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Unfortunately, based on Trump’s past behavior, it’s all too believable. Yes, it certainly looks that way. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/62 "2017-03-19T10:40:14Z")
> [@igor\_frankensteen](#): > > In other words, if this WASN’T Trump, the handshakes and when they did and didn’t happen, would have all sorts of meanings. But since this is a guy who is completely out of his element, attributing any thought or intent or political craft to his actions, is probably a mistake. I agree with you in general but not in relation to the subject of handshakes. Handshakes in business have the same protocols as in politics. Not shaking Merkel’s hand if she and he were doing business would be as stunningly rude as in politics or diplomacy. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/63 "2017-03-19T11:39:49Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I agree with you in general but not in relation to the subject of handshakes. Handshakes in business have the same protocols as in politics. Not shaking Merkel’s hand if she and he were doing business would be as stunningly rude as in politics or diplomacy. But how I then dies the **press** ask businesspeople that shake hands? Someone upthread conjectured this was a factor in this event – Trump’s hatred of the press, and if they ask him to do something, that’s a reason to NOT do it (in Trump’s mind) – and I think this was an astute observation. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/64 "2017-03-19T15:44:55Z")
Press photographers and paparazzi prompt their subjects to pose all the time. Donald’s a celebrity. He has no problem posing, when it suits him. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/65 "2017-03-19T16:03:34Z")
Would \*you \*want to touch that hand, knowing what it’s grabbed? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/66 "2017-03-19T16:09:21Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Would \*you \*want to touch that hand, knowing what it’s grabbed? What are you accusing Angela Merkel of grabbing? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/67 "2017-03-19T16:18:05Z")
The Sudetenland. You \*know \*she wants to. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/68 "2017-03-19T16:37:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The Sudetenland. You \*know \*she wants to. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/69 "2017-03-19T17:30:59Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Would \*you \*want to touch that hand, knowing what it’s grabbed? It can’t be too bad, surely he sits to pee. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/70 "2017-03-19T17:42:30Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > It can’t be too bad, surely he sits to pee. If I had to rate your joke on a scale from 1 to 10, urinate. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/71 "2017-03-19T20:55:51Z")
Merkel should be glad not to shake hands with Trump. You never know where his hand has been. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/72 "2017-03-19T21:53:44Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Childish jackass. > > This is what we can expect from a man who is unfit to stand shoulder to shoulder with actual world leaders. I go along with this answer ! ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/73 "2017-03-19T22:10:20Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > … I’m still 😕 why Trump seemingly refusing to shake hands with the most powerful leader of Europe. Putin is a far more powerful European leader than Merkel. (Merkel has a press and Bundestag to worry about.) And this may be part of the explanation. Trump was trying to further endear himself to Putin. (Meanwhile Putin is bashing his head: “We got our American puppet; but why did it have to be a nitwit!”) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/74 "2017-03-19T22:42:49Z")
It’s safe to conclude that the apparent snub was a real snub. He’s had all weekend to clear up any misconceptions. He could have issued an apology. He has not done either of these things. Trump is a giant orange turd, and I hate that he’s my president. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/75 "2017-03-20T00:05:28Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > He’s had all weekend to clear up any misconceptions. He could have issued an apology. He has not done either of these things. Does he ever work over the weekends though? ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/76 "2017-03-20T01:08:17Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Merkel is > > 1. A woman > 2. Who he is not capable of expressing dominance over > > Simple as that. that’s a very possible explanation. doesn’t mean the other posts are wrong, necessarily. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/77 "2017-03-20T05:30:33Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Does he ever work over the weekends though? Is what he does on the weekdays work? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/78 "2017-03-20T05:49:20Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > It’s safe to conclude that the apparent snub was a real snub. He’s had all weekend to clear up any misconceptions. He could have issued an apology. He has not done either of these things. I’m sure it was a real snub but I don’t think his lack of apology or explanation is evidence of anything. Even if he hadn’t intended a snub he wouldn’t apologise or explain. I understand he has said explicitly he doesn’t believe in doing either of those things. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > But how I then dies the **press** ask businesspeople that shake hands? Someone upthread conjectured this was a factor in this event – Trump’s hatred of the press, and if they ask him to do something, that’s a reason to NOT do it (in Trump’s mind) – and I think this was an astute observation. Firstly, what \*\*Merneith \*\*said. Secondly, I don’t see the difference. There is no way any competent business person could fail to know that deliberately ignoring a request to shake hands is a huge snub, no matter who’s request. Even more so since Merkel clearly proposed that she and Trump comply with the press request. And yes it may well be that Trump snubbed the request more by way of refusal to comply with the press than because he didn’t want to shake hands with Merkel. That doesn’t make it any less of a dick move, whether his background is politics, business or entertainment. The rules of good manners are the same, any which way. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/79 "2017-03-20T05:59:56Z")
I don’t think Mr, ‘[I moved on her like a bitch](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/read-donald-trumps-lewd-remarks-about-women-on-days-of-our-lives-set-2005-groping-star-a7351381.html)’ cares about his manners or how they’re perceived by those beneath him. And everyone who isn’t his blood is beneath him. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436/80 "2017-03-21T00:07:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Merkel is > > 1. A woman > 2. Who he is not capable of expressing dominance over > > Simple as that. Plus, _she_, not the US President for the first time since the war, is now being spoken of as the new Leader of the Free World. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshake-handshake-they-want-us-to-shake-hands-trump-refusing-to-shake-hands-with-merkel/782436.md?page=5)