Paris:
French President Emmanuel Macron says his now famous white-knuckle handshake show down with US counterpart Donald Trump was 'a moment of truth' designed toshow that he is no pushover.
Macron told a Sunday newspaper in France that "myhandshake with him, it wasn't innocent."
"One must show that you won't make small concessions, even symbolic ones, but also not over-publicise things, either," Macron added.
Macron's office confirmed to The Associated Press the veracity of the president's comments in Le Journal duDimanche. At their first meeting, ahead of a NATO summit in Brussels on Thursday, the two men locked hands for so long that knuckles started turning white.
Also Read: Donald Trump to make final decision on Paris climate deal next week
The French leader held the shake for a few seconds more. Both men's jaws seemed to clench.
