President Trump greeted King Charles with a 10-second handshake.
'Having Absolutely None of It': Internet Cannot Stop Analyzing Trump's Handshake With King Charles and the Royal Protocol Breach
President Donald Trump welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House on Monday as the royal couple began a four-day U.S. state visit. The meeting drew attention after Trump's handshake and an apparent breach of royal protocol sparked a wave of social media reaction.
Video footage recorded an elongated handshake between Charles and Trump during the visit.
The 77-year-old king reached for Trump's extended hand and shook it firmly for almost 10 seconds on the red carpet. Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump shared a light greeting alongside them, per The Mirror US.
Monday's White House meeting is one of several engagements planned during the royal couple's four-day U.S. visit. The royals are looking forward to promoting the collaboration between the two countries. The visit comes amid heightened tensions over U.S. military action against Iran and ongoing trade disputes
King Charles maintained a stoic and formal expression throughout the exchange.
Did Trump break royal protocol with King Charles?
The royal couple made their way to the White House South Lawn following their arrival in the country, where the president welcomed them, and they posed for photos together.
The couple then took photos while engaging in friendly conversation. After the photos were taken, they walked toward the main residence of the White House for a garden party. As Trump moved forward, he tapped the King on the shoulder.
The gesture drew attention as royal protocol generally discourages others from initiating physical contact with the monarch
Although the gesture might be seen as a display of affection, body language specialist Judi James told The Daily Mail, "This touch on the arm as they walked in also looked like a more political gesture. It was also the first real gesture of active, 'special' friendship here from a rather more subdued Trump than the very effusive rituals we saw during their last meeting [in September 2025]."
The interaction appeared to show both men pulling their hands toward themselves.
Social media users react to Trump's handshake
Social media users reacted to Trump's 10-second long handshake with King Charles. One user wrote, describing Trump's grip as a "toxic beta-male handshake" and saying Charles "is having absolutely none of it." Another commented, “G*d. The Trumps and King Charles have about as awkward of a meeting as you possibly could have. Every pause, every glance, every second feels off. This is not diplomacy. It’s discomfort.”
A third user added, "Body language says it all, Charles doesn't flinch, Trump looks like he's overcompensating."
This state visit coincides with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. King Charles is expected to address Congress during the visit, where he is anticipated to speak about the shared interests and historical ties between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
After the initial greeting, Charles and Camilla are expected to join the president and first lady for a visit to the recently expanded White House beehive. Subsequently, the King and Queen will attend a garden party featuring guests symbolizing the relationship between the US and UK.
On the 2nd day of their visit, Trump and the First Lady will hold a State Arrival Ceremony on the White House's South Lawn. In the evening, they will welcome the royals at the South Portico of the White House for a State Dinner in the East Room.
Charles and Camilla will head to New York on Wednesday to participate in the memorial for the September 11 terrorist attacks. On Thursday morning, Charles and Camilla are scheduled to return to the White House.