Lip Reader Reveals the Exchange Between Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron During Egypt Summit
Two of the most watched leaders in the world shook hands in a tight pause that would spark hours of speculation across the world in the Sharm El-Sheikh summit chamber.
The 26-second handshake between French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump during a high-level gathering of world leaders in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025, rekindled long-simmering concerns about their tense relationship.
A Tight Spot Between Two Superpowers
In order to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza, the two presidents were present at a summit. The lengthy and passionate handshake, however, took center stage, even if the formal agenda was mostly kept behind closed doors.
Professional lip reader Nicola Hickling described the interaction as having clear emotional undertones and a hint of tension. The gesture was far more than a simple greeting, she told the Daily Mail.
According to Hickling’s version, Trump says, “Nice to see you, so you agreed?” at the start. Swiftly turning away from the camera, Macron muttered a reply that was too quiet to hear. “Are you being genuine?” Trump asked again. Macron’s purported response? “Of course.”
tense handshake at the summit Between Macron and Trump
Trump’s subsequent action was clearly aggressive. His grasp intensified as he demanded an answer from Macron. The lip reader claims that Trump questioned why he had been harmed. The French leader’s hand was still linked between the Commander-in-Chief’s, and he looked down, clearly tense.
The now-iconic image of stiff posture and silent hostility was created by both men standing in front of the official summit backdrop. Hickling claims that Trump took use of the occasion to deliver a message that he presented as promoting peace. Macron briefly tapped Trump’s hand, but the US president disregarded it and tightened his hold.
When Trump allegedly responded, “I only hurt those who hurt others,” pointing to the cameras, the dispute reached its most dramatic point. “I see,” said Macron in response. We’ll have to investigate that.
When Trump said, “You will see what is about to happen,” and then ended the handshake with a loaded statement, the situation became more heated:
“Do it; I want to see you do it. See you in a little while.”
Their conversation’s subject is still unknown, and it came weeks after Macron was purportedly seen laughing with other foreign leaders, which fueled rumors of underlying tensions. Trump focused on the media following the event.
Regarding the ‘Floating Crown’ photo on Truth Social, Trump criticizes Time Magazine.
Trump used his Truth Social platform to express another grievance, this time against Time magazine, as rumors circulated.
Although he admitted in his post that the story about him was fair, he took issue with the unpleasant photo that was utilized. “Something floating on top of” his head, the President said, “looked like a floating crown, but an extremely small one.”
“This is a really awful image and deserves to be called out,” he added. “I never enjoyed taking shots from bottom angles. Why and what are they doing? Trump has already criticized media representations, and this is probably not the only time he will do so.
A Complicated Partnership
For a long time, the Trump-Macron relationship has involved both open communication and diplomacy. In speeches and interviews, the two presidents have occasionally spoken candid sentiments on one another, despite their frequent public displays of goodwill and cooperation.
Diplomacy might have been the focus of the Egypt conference. However, this brief instance of tense communication served as a reminder to the globe that interpersonal relationships can take precedence over formal diplomacy, even at the highest levels of authority.
