French President Emmanuel Macron seemingly snubbed Donald Trump‘s outstretched hand after warmly embracing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a tight handshake at the Vatican.
The 23-second clip, which has emerged online, shows Macron tightly going in for a friendly ‘bro’ type handshake with the Ukrainian leader ahead of the Pope Francis‘ funeral today.
But when Trump extends his hand towards the French head of state, he seemingly snubs the US President by failing so acknowledge his prompt before the trio engage in a brief discussion.
However it isn’t the first time the French and US heads of state have had a red faced encounter, as when they met in Washington DC last February, they awkwardly shook hands three times.
Outside of the White House they gripped onto each others hands for an excruciating 12 seconds as they posed for photos, with the second awkward encounter seeing the US President place his hand on Macron’s leg.
The French President later turned the physical contact into another hand shake, before they engaged in another odd clasping of hands during a news conference where Trump appeared to be oddly twisting Macron’s arm before they locked hands.
The duo’s uncomfortable ‘death clasp’ handshakes have gone viral over the years, with footage from 2017 showing the two leaders locking hands for 29 seconds straight on one occasion.
After what appeared to be a snub from Macron today, Zelensky and Trump had a short talk ahead of the late Catholic leader’s funeral, marking their first encounter since their disastrous White House clash.
French President Emmanuel Macron seemingly snubbed the Trump today as he appeared to offer a handshake
Only seconds before he engaged in a warmly exchange with President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican today
In their third prolonged handshake of the day, Trump appears to twist Macron’s arm before they lock fists and face the audience during a news conference
The second awkward handshake happens in Trump’s Oval Office, taking place after the US president puts his hand on Macron’s leg
It comes amid tense discussions between the two countries as the US attempts broker a peace deal with Russia, with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff welcomed by Putin at the Kremlin earlier this week.
Talks between Zelensky and Trump are said to have been ‘very productive’ today, according to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
Zelensky later wrote on X: ‘Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered.
‘Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.
‘Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you POTUS.’
Neither Trump nor Zelensky interacted before the cameras trained on them before the service started.
Elsewhere during Pope Francis’s funeral today, a number of dignitaries couldn’t resist pulling out their mobiles to take pictures and videos of the late religious leader’s humble wooden casket as it was carried back towards St Peter’s Basilica.
As many in the front row – including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb – burst into applause, those further back could be seen holding their devices aloft.
The leaders can be seen posing for pictures while holding on to each other during the long handshake
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with US President Donald Trump (L) at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday
It was the first time the pair met face to face since their disastrous meeting in February
President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at their contentious Oval Office meeting in February
It was a key moment of the ceremony when the world’s most important leaders were careful to show respect, however at the same time some dignitaries pulled out their phones and began filming.
Among those capturing a sneaky shot of the Pope’s coffin was Switzerland’s president, Karin Keller-Sutter, and Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Tomas Tayebwa, who tweeted a picture of the coffin being carried out.
Following his death at the age of 88 on Monday, Pope Francis was today bid goodbye by some 250,000 mourners, including top global leaders and dignitaries.
Those in attendance included Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, as well as Prince William for the UK.
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania were in attendance, as were the majority of European leaders, including Emmanual Macron, Olaf Scholz and Georgia Meloni.
Notably, while Ukrainian President Zelensky and his wife were present, Putin did not attend.
Monarchies from all over the world also sent representatives, with ten reigning monarchs also in attendance.
A number of dignitaries couldn’t resist pulling out their mobiles to take pictures and videos of the late Pope’s humble wooden casket
Among those capturing a sneaky shot of the Pope’s coffin was Switzerland’s president, Karin Keller-Sutte
Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Tomas Tayebwa tweeted a photo of Pope Francis’ coffin being carried back to the Basilica after being spotted taking snaps in the crowd
Tayebwa taking a snap as Pope Francis’s coffin inside the Basilica from the crowd
A wider shot of the Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Government taking the image as bearers carry the religious leader’s coffin
Following his death at the age of 88 on Monday, Pope Francis was today bid goodbye by some 250,000 mourners, including top global leaders and dignitaries.
During the funeral, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re – who led the service – paid tribute to Pope Francis’ campaigns for peace
Hundreds of thousands of mourners turned out to the funeral service, cramming into the square and surrounding streets
A member of the clergy participates in the burial rite for Pope Francis at the Vatican
Prince William attended the service on behalf of King Charles and was seated next to Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany
While most of the dignitaries stood respectfully throughout the service, some were spotted making a faux-pas as Pope Francis’ coffin left St Paul’s Square and returned to the Basilica, ahead of its journey to his final resting place.
Attendees further back in the seating plan were spotted taking photographs and videos of the coffin while others stood looking sombrely on.
Elsewhere, Joe Biden was spotted taking selfies with several officials – but not while the service was ongoing.
One of these was a selfie with the Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Tomas Tayebwa.
It came after President Trump was accused of breaking strict Vatican dress code by wearing a pin of the American flag on his left lapel.
During the funeral, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re – who led the service – said: ‘The final image we have of him, which will remain etched in our memory, in our eyes and our hearts is that of last Sunday, Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis, despite his serious health problems, wanted to give us his blessings from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
‘He then came down to this square to greet from his open pope-mobile the large crowd gathered for the Easter mass.’
Cardinal Re also said the Pope ‘incessantly raised his voice’ for peace and urged people to ‘build bridges not walls’.
From right to left: US First Lady Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump, Finland President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron
A teary Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron among the guests
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer (L) arrive at the funeral
Britain’s Prince William (L) arrives ahead of the late Pope Francis’ funeral ceremony on April 26
Members of the clergy attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on April 26
Members of the clergy gather ahead of the funeral Mass of Pope Francis, in Saint Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, April 26, 2025
Cardinals attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City
Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re (L) officiates near the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter’s Square
Droves of faithfuls arrive at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore during the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26
A woman holds up sign that reads “saint immediately” with a picture of Pope Frances outside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore after the funeral of Pope Francis
The Vatican said more than 250,000 people attended the funeral.
Others who attended include the Prince of Wales – who attended on behalf of the King, Sir Keir and his wife Victoria, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Irish President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland.
Before the funeral William, side by side with Sir Keir, stood for a moment’s silence in front of Pope Francis’s sealed wooden and zinc coffin in its place before the altar in St Peter’s Basilica.
It is the first time the prince has represented the monarch at an international funeral.
William spoke briefly to US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on his way into the service.
The seating plan was based on a complex order of precedence, with Argentina – the country of the Pope’s birth – and Italy at the front.
Other sovereigns, heads of state, and heads of government were then seated in alphabetical order of their countries’ names in the French language – used because French is considered the language of diplomacy.
