Daring Macron risks angering Trump in touchy-feely White House showdown
Yet the French president made an unusually daring move on Monday as the leaders jostled to use body language as a power play.
Mr Trump, who tries to exude an alpha male supremacy, likes to 'get the upper hand in close combat sports', explained Prof Geoffrey Beattie, a body language expert from Edge Hill University, who noted the US president's love of handshake diplomacy.
However, during Mr Macron's visit to the White House to present a European plan for peace in Ukraine, 'he contested Trump's right to dominate the interaction', the psychologist said, adding: 'It was no longer the boss and the apprentice.'
In a particularly tense moment, Mr Macron, 47, interrupted his 78-year-old counterpart as Mr Trump falsely claimed that Europe was 'loaning' money to Ukraine and would get 'their money back'.
Mr Macron put his hand on Mr Trump's arm and carefully corrected him: 'No, in fact, to be frank, we paid 60 per cent of the total default.'
Like the US, he said, it was through a mix of grants, loans and guarantees, adding: 'We provided real money, to be clear.'
This physical interjection was a 'daring move in this body language politics … and one that is uncommon in interactions with American leaders', Prof Beattie said.
He added: 'He is wrestling for control of the interaction, by stopping him gesturing or interrupting. Trump looks surprised, and it takes him a few seconds to remember how to put on a patronising face.'
In doing so, Prof Beattie said Mr Trump was forced to change his power strategy and so 'turns to the reporters in the room, looking for a kind of alliance, waving his other free hand to say, 'I don't believe this''.
'It is as if he is saying: 'Give the boy a chance,' in a patronising way,' he said.
Throughout the press conference, which took place on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Mr Macron had been unusually forthright in his gestures that told Mr Trump 'not to interrupt', Prof Beattie said.
During Mr Trump's first term, Mr Macron was one of the first world leaders to fight back against the US president's trick of accepting handshakes and then yanking world leaders off-balance.
In an infamous incident in 2017, he gave Mr Trump a white-knuckle handshake and the squeezing duel left white finger marks on his hand.
A year later, Mr Trump took hold of Mr Macron's hand and practically dragged him into the Oval Office in an overt – and well-photographed – symbol of dominance.
On Monday, Mr Macron also made it clear he disagreed with Mr Trump on key points, including clearly labelled Russia as the 'aggressor', a point on which Mr Trump wavered last week when he wrongly accused Ukraine of starting the war.
The two presidents' high-profile meeting came amid a growing rift between Washington and Europe over Ukraine, following a major policy shift by the Trump administration to restart diplomacy with Russia.
But both leaders appeared on the charm offensive as Mr Macron hailed their 'friendship from your first term', while Mr Trump ended the conference telling the Frenchman to 'say hello to your beautiful wife'.
Prof Beattie said: 'From the footage, it's clear Trump doesn't want to go head-to-head with Macron, but he does want to come out as the winner.
'He is a narcissist, who wants to seem untouchable, but we all know he is thin-skinned.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
6 minutes ago
- BBC News
After a blown deadline, what next for US-Canada trade?
A self-imposed deadline for a new US-Canada trade deal came and went on Friday. So what happens next for these two deeply entwined neighbours?Canada and the US have been locked in a tariff war for six months and, despite talk of "intense" negotiations in recent weeks, a trade agreement remains elusive. Both President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney have poured cold water on the idea they will reach a quick, and tariff-free, deal. And Trump's open criticism of Canada's move to recognise a Palestinian state dashed hopes for a last minute agreement earlier this pessimism marks a shift in tone from as recently as June's G7 meeting, when the two leaders set themselves the summer deadline. Canadian negotiators have come to the conclusion that "it's not the end of the world" if a quick deal isn't reached and "that quality over speed and a rushed agreement matters a lot", said Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in - who has been tight-lipped about the negotiation details - has said as much himself, repeating that just "any deal" won't do. Still, there are pressures on both sides to give businesses a reprieve. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said on Friday he shares "Canadians' disappointment" that a deal was not reached by the deadline. He urged Carney's Liberals to do more to "take back control of our economic future". Canada is now facing a 35% tariff rate, though there is a carve out for goods compliant under a current free trade deal. American global tariffs on steel, aluminium, autos and auto parts are hurting, as the US is a top market for those sectors. The Trump administration has justified those tariffs by claiming a lack of co-operation on stemming the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl. Canada denies that, noting about 1% of US fentanyl imports originate in Canada. It has also brought in new border protections and a "fentanyl czar" in recent months in an effort to address Trump's concerns. Threatened tariffs on copper and the expected end of a global tariff exemption used by shoppers of goods under $800 could also has responded with C$60bn ($43.3bn; £32.3bn) in counter tariffs on various American goods - the only country along with China to directly retaliate against Trump."It comes as no surprise that businesses are craving certainty after months and months of tumultuous announcements," said Catherine Fortin-Lefaivre, vice-president of international policy and global partnership at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "But at the same time, they're not craving certainty at the expense of a really bad deal." A few factors give Canada some breathing paper, it looks like the country is facing a severe tariff rate from the US, but trade is currently more free than the levies suggest at first March, Trump announced a tariffs reprieve on goods compliant with the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement, known in Canada as CUSMA and the US as the deal - negotiated during Trump's first term in office - came into force five years ago. Almost 90% of Canadian exports to the US are ultimately able to cross the border duty free, if firms file out necessary paperwork, under that agreement."That has given us a buffer, no question about it, that other countries don't have right now," said Prof means Canada is overall paying a much lower tariff rate than many of the deals already inked with the US, like the EU, South Korea and Japan at 15%, or Indonesia and the Philippines at 19%.Ottawa has also brought in some relief programmes for affected industries and has also collected about C$1.5bn more in import duties than in the same period last year, due to the counter tariffs. Why Trump's global tariffs 'victory' may well come at a high priceSee the Trump tariffs list by countryFive things now pricier in Canada due to tariffs'In business, indecision is killer' - Canadian firms seek certainty And while in the US consumer confidence is up and prices there have remained contained, it helps Canada's negotiating position if they can wait for Americans to start feeling the pain of tariffs."It's Americans who are going to squawk," said Prof Hampson. Ms Fortin-Lefaivre predicts US businesses, especially smaller firms that don't have the same resources to withstand them, will be pressuring political leaders. "So that pressure could play to our advantage," she said. Canadians also appear willing to give the new prime minister some leeway. Opinion polls suggest they are generally satisfied with his handling of "understands that doing what's best for the economy right now is actually what's best for him politically", Martha Hall Findlay, director of the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy and a former Liberal MP, told the BBC. Trump has said he is imposing tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing, open overseas markets and raise money for the government. He is also using them to push countries like Canada on a range of non-trade issues, including military the last few weeks, Ottawa has significantly ramped up its defence spending, boosted security at the shared border and killed a digital tax opposed by American tech firms. Those moves show Canada is "doing what the Americans wanted us to do", said Ms Fortin-Lefaivre. She hopes Canadian negotiators are pushing for tariffs to be as low as possible, as well as working to ensure the two deeply integrated supply chains are able to continue working together. Canada is pressing for relief on the 50% steel and aluminium tariffs, which are squeezing US automakers. And on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signalled in an interview with CNBC that is an option on the table. Trump meanwhile, has raised a number of longstanding trade irritants besides fentanyl, including Canada's protections around its dairy industry. Ottawa has previously warned of more countermeasures to come if talks collapse, though political appetite for that may be waning. Retaliatory tariffs "haven't seemed to have had the kind of impact that we would hope for", British Columbia Premier David Eby recently told retaliation, Prof Hampson said: "The Americans have escalation dominance here. So you want to be smart about it." A spokesperson for Carney declined to say whether more countermeasures remained on the table. Meanwhile, Canadian negotiators have been in Washington most of this week and keep pushing talks forward, with the minister responsible for Canada-US trade saying on Friday an acceptable agreement "was not yet in sight". "We all crave the certainty of a deal," said Ms Fortin-Lefaivre. But research by her business group suggests firms are making contingency plans. Almost 40% of goods exporters have already diversified suppliers outside the US, and 28% have diversified buyers. They are also looking ahead to what may be more challenging talks with CUSMA, which has proven a critical backstop, as it is up for review next year. It is all part of a wider push by the country to diversify trade away from the US, pull down barriers that have hindered trade between provinces, and press forward more quickly on major projects. The economic links between the two countries will stay strong - Canada will still be one of the largest trading partners and economic and security allies of the the irony is that Trump's threats may be "forcing Canada to understand we have to get our own economic house in order," said Ms Hall Findlay. "It's going to take some really tough decisions. And I do think our current government gets this."
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bill comes due: Student loan borrowers are set to see spike in prices as Trump provision begins
Millions of student loan borrowers enrolled in a payment plan the Trump administration has called 'illegal' will see their bills go up starting Friday as interest accrual resumes. The nearly eight million student loan borrowers who rely on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan — a repayment plan rolled out under former President Joe Biden — will start seeing interest accrue on their loans as of August 1. The repayment plan was among the generous to date, and many borrowers' monthly payments dropped by as much as half, CNBC reports. When announcing the change, the department said it 'lacks the authority to put borrowers into a zero percent interest rate status,' according to a July statement. The Biden administration rolled out the plan in 2023, but it has since faced Republican-led challenges. A court blocked parts of the plan last year, placing SAVE borrowers on a no-interest forbearance plan in the meantime. Education Secretary Linda McMahon shared a video on X on Friday explaining that the 'Trump administration will not allow the American taxpayer to take on debts that are not their own.' 'If you are a borrower enrolled in the illegal SAVE plan, please visit to learn about affordable repayment options,' she said. Now, borrowers are reacting to the change. Shelly Cornwell, a 55-year-old from Illinois, told The Wall Street Journal she has been in 'limbo' for the past year after signing up for a SAVE plan. She wasn't making payments because her loans were in forbearance, so she signed up for a different plan to make progress toward forgiveness. Now, she's worried her payments will go up and hopes she doesn't have to take on another part-time job. Jessica Ochoa, a 31-year-old from California, told the Journal that her life became more affordable after going on a SAVE plan. 'I realized, 'Oh, wow, my loans are much more manageable and affordable. I can have a kid, I can buy a house,'' Ochoa told the outlet. 'So then I did those things.' On social media, users have also shared posts reacting to the decision. 'Completely forgot interest will start accruing on my student loans tomorrow,' one user wrote. — erica (@hotfvzz) July 31, 2025 Experts say borrowers are likely better off finding new plans, CNBC reports. One of the best options at the moment is the Income-Based Repayment Plan, which caps borrowers' monthly payments according to their income, the outlet reports. Borrowers could also opt for the Repayment Assistance Plan, which will launch next year. These options are among the few income-driven plans that will be available to borrowers after Trump's sweeping tax and spending legislation phased out many similar plans, CNBC reports.
BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ghislaine Maxwell moved to minimum-security women's prison in Texas
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of late financier Jeffrey Epstein, has been moved from a Florida prison to a minimum-security facility in Texas, authorities have move comes as Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, has pressed the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction while also seeking a pardon from President Donald in July, Maxwell held two meetings with US Deputy US Attorney General, the details of which have not been made public. Maxwell has been at the centre of controversy surrounding the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files, and the reasons for her transfer from the Florida prison are unclear. While speculation has been rife that Trump may pardon Maxwell, the White House has previously said "no leniency is being given or discussed". The BBC has contacted the White House for comment on Maxwell's move to Texas. "We can confirm Ghislaine Maxwell is in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Bryan in Bryan, Texas," the BOP said in a statement on attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed the transfer but declined further facility, FPC Bryant, is located about 100 miles (160km) from the Texas capital of Austin. Like other federal prison camps, inmates at FPC Bryant are housed in dormitories, with a low staff-to-inmate ratio compared to other, more secure federal prisons. It houses inmates serving time for non-violent offences and white-collar crimes. Also housed among the approximately 650 female inmates at the facility is disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence after being found guilty of defrauding investors in her blood-testing start-up in 2022. By comparison, the facility where Maxwell was housed in Florida, FCI Tallahassee, houses over 800 inmates, both men and discipline is strict at the facility and all prisoners are expected to work, they also have access to foreign language and business classes, can play sports, watch television and attend religious services. Contact with family members is allowed to video calls, and inmates are permitted visitors during weekends and holidays, according to a prison handbook published by authorities online. Less than a week ago, Maxwell's legal team indicated that she was willing to testify before Congress on what she knows about the case, but only if she is granted strict legal protections. Earlier in July, she held two meetings with Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said he planned to see if she could provide additional information on other people who might have been helped by Epstein to sexually abuse girls. After the meetings, he said that he would reveal what he learned at an "appropriate time". Maxwell's lawyer has said that she has not made promises or sought anything in exchange. Pressure has been growing on President Trump to release more files related to the Epstein case, after he repeatedly promised to do so while on the campaign trail last has instead accused political rivals of using the case to distract from his achievements since returning to office.
