French President Emmanuel Macron refused to be shaken when he found himself in an unexpected standoff with US counterpart Donald Trump yesterday.
Mr Trump has been known to make people flinch with a strong handshake that he often combines with a wrench of the arm to leave his victim off balance.
But Mr Macron, France's 39-year-old president, appeared to be ready for him when they met for lunch at the US embassy in Brussels ahead of a NATO summit.
As the world cameras watched, Mr Macron held on tight to Mr Trump's notorious power grip as the two men sat next to each other, the Frenchman's mouth clenched and eyes firmly fixed at the US leader’s squinted stare.
Their knuckles then appeared to turn white with their jaws clenching and faces tightening.
After the moment finally broke off, the men left the scene to enjoy a quick meal of veal fillet with Belgian chocolate mousse for dessert.
But the two presidents were not finished.
Later at NATO headquarters Mr Macron was the last to turn up for the opening of the alliance's new headquarters and found himself again shaking hands.
À Bruxelles, unis avec nos alliés de @NATO. pic.twitter.com/7nyaoI8hki
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 25, 2017
Cue laughs from leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg as Mr Macron found his arm wrenched about by a smiling Mr Trump.
It is not the first time Mr Trump has caught the world's attention with his macho man grip.
His handshake style came under media scrutiny after a meetings with the Japanese and Canadian leaders.
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Yesterday’s group portrait at NATO was also notable for Mr Trump apparently pushing aside the prime minister of Montenegro, Dusko Markovic, in order to get in the front row.
Montenegro will formally become NATO's 29th member on 5 June, the alliance announced yesterday, despite bitter Russian opposition to the move.
