There’s a certain art to dealing with a Donald Trump handshake.
And Tajikistan’s strongman president, Emomali Rahmon, appears to have gotten it down to a tee.
The authoritarian ruler didn’t let the U.S president’s reputation as a fierce hand-grabber faze him when the pair met at a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
In fact, he had the upper hand — as this viral clip shows:
Perhaps Rahmon analyzed footage of Trump’s February meeting with Japan’s prime minster Shinzō Abe to see how it shouldn’t be done:
Ouch! Trump and Japanese PM Shinzō Abe’s EPIC handshake. pic.twitter.com/gtX3mCwii8
— Eddie Du (@Edourdoo) February 11, 2017
Or maybe he studied Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s technique:
And they meet. First move: the handshake. @potus @justintrudeau #cdnpoli #uspoli pic.twitter.com/54GjfNmNpa
— CBC Ottawa (@CBCOttawa) February 13, 2017
Or he might have just read HuffPost’s piece on how to defend yourself from a Trump-style handshake.
Here’s how Twitter users responded to Rahmon’s handshake encounter:
Tajikistan’s president-for-life beats Trump at the aggressive handshake. Yuge respect, Emomali Sharipovich. https://t.co/9IcsRsFGik
— Maxim Edwards (@MaximEdwards) May 23, 2017
Not in my house! https://t.co/89Jcaq8tSV
— Philipp Löwe (@DonLejon) May 23, 2017
This is a power handshake https://t.co/LbuAvjXvkA
— 🍌 Micah Wiener (@ProducerMicah) May 23, 2017
Round one of how to out-#Trump Trump on the handshake goes to #Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon. All pull, no slack. https://t.co/KpH9HrKaKJ
— Eric Jones (@Intrigue_Jones) May 23, 2017
#BREAKING: Emomali Rahmon (President of #Tajikistan) totally outplayed Trump in the weird handshake game. https://t.co/OsoAxwn7wG
— Yuval Weber (@yuvalweber) May 23, 2017
Looks like someone finally bested trump's aggressive handshake, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Sharipovich aka NOT IN MY HOUSE! 😂 https://t.co/Uga6Ih73e1
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) May 23, 2017
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.