Lip Reader Reveals the Exchange Between Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron During Egypt Summit

A tense silence cloaked the summit room in Sharm El-Sheikh as two of the world's most-watched leaders shared a handshake that would ignite global speculation within hours.

On October 13, 2025, during a high-level meeting of world leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron stood face-to-face — and what unfolded between them in just 26 seconds has reignited long-simmering questions about their fraught relationship.

A Gripping Moment Between Two Powerhouses

The two leaders were attending the summit to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza. But while the formal agenda stayed largely behind closed doors, it was the intense and prolonged handshake that stole the spotlight.

According to professional lip reader Nicola Hickling, the encounter was laced with under-the-radar tension and unmistakable emotional undertones. She told the Daily Mail the gesture was much more than just a casual greeting.

Hickling's interpretation begins with Trump saying, "Nice to see you, so you agreed?" Macron, half-turned away from the cameras, responded too quietly to be heard. But Trump pressed again, "Are you being genuine?" Macron's alleged reply? "Of course." Trump’s next move signaled unmistakable intensity.

Tense Summit Handshake Between Trump and Macron

The tension escalated. The President tightened his grip, demanding to know why he had been hurt. The French leader, visibly tense, looked down as his hand remained locked between Trump's.

Both men stood before the official summit backdrop, creating a now-iconic image of rigid posturing and quiet confrontation. According to Hickling, Trump used the moment to convey a more profound message of making peace. Macron responded with a brief tap on Trump's hand, but the President ignored it and tightened his grip even further.

The exchange reached its most striking moment when Trump allegedly said, "I only hurt those who hurt others," pointing toward the cameras. Macron answered, "I see. We will have to see about that."

The encounter escalated when Trump warned, "You will see what is about to happen," before ending the handshake with a loaded statement:

"I'd like to see you do it, do it. I'll see you in a bit."

Trump Criticizes Time Magazine over "Floating Crown" Photo on Truth Social

As speculation swirled, Donald Trump turned to his Truth Social platform to air another grievance — this time, with Time magazine.

In his post, he acknowledged that the article covering him was fair, but complained that the photo used was unflattering. The President described the photo as "something floating on top of" his head that "looked like a floating crown, but an extremely small one."

He further said, "I never liked taking pictures from underneath angles, but this is a super bad picture, and deserves to be called out. What are they doing, and why?" This wasn't the first time Trump had critiqued media portrayals, and it likely won't be the last.

A Relationship Defined by Smiles and Snubs

The Trump-Macron relationship has long walked the line between friendly showmanship and public friction. While both men have smiled for cameras, each has taken turns criticizing the other in speeches and interviews over the years.

The Egypt summit may have been about diplomacy. Still, this just over half a minute moment of strained contact reminded the world that even at the highest levels of power, personal dynamics can overshadow official diplomacy.