Diplomacy is not merely about closed-door meetings, formal agreements, or diplomatic statements, as global political battles are often won through a simple handshake. Donald Trump, the president of the most powerful nation in the world, had a distinctive habit that unnerved prominent leaders across the globe. Whenever he greeted a head of state, he would aggressively pull them toward himself, a tactic termed by international media as the Trumpshake or a dominance game. However, when Trump encountered Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this entire mind game completely backfired on the US. John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor to Trump, explained how Prime Minister Modi countered this exact technique using Trump's own style.
John Bolton Recalls the Intense Handshake Incident
Speaking on an international media channel's special program titled New Order, the former US National Security Advisor shared an old and fascinating anecdote. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi once shook hands with Donald Trump so firmly that it literally left Trump gasping for air. This particular incident serves as a reminder of how physically and mentally robust Prime Minister Modi truly is. As soon as Bolton's statement surfaced on the social media platform X, it went viral globally. The very Trump who used to make major leaders uncomfortable through his aggressive grip and commanding body language found himself entirely helpless against a powerful handshake from Prime Minister Modi.
Understanding Trump's Inward Yank and Dominance Game
When Donald Trump assumed office as the US president, intense debates sparked among western media and experts regarding his body language. The Washington Post labeled his handshaking technique as the Trumpshake, while Time magazine described it as a battle for supremacy. During a conversation with CNN, body language expert Chris Ulrich explained that Trump's maneuver effectively disrupted the balance of the person standing opposite him. In an interview with CBS News, another expert Don Khory referred to it as a power-move. When you pull someone toward yourself, you forcefully breach their personal space and project the impression that you are the boss.
When Global Leaders Looked Helpless Against Trump
Throughout 2017 and the following years, numerous videos of Trump's handshakes went viral on the internet, showing powerful global leaders looking helpless. In 2017, when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the White House, Trump held and pulled his hand for a staggering 19 seconds. The facial expressions and eyes of Abe after releasing his hand clearly revealed how deeply uncomfortable he had become. US Vice President Mike Pence and Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch were also startled by Trump's antics on multiple occasions. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attempted to counter the pull by placing his hand on Trump's shoulder. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron resisted Trump's grip by squeezing his hand so hard that it left white marks on Trump's thumb.
Prime Minister Modi's Iron Grip and India's Power-Move
However, when it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's turn, Trump's dominance game proved to be an absolute failure. Prime Minister Modi is widely recognized for his assertive and resolute personality, whether it involves warmly embracing global leaders or executing a firm handshake. When Trump attempted his signature inward yank tactic with Prime Minister Modi, Modi not only maintained his ground but displayed such an iron grip that the US president himself was left gasping. This was not merely an interaction involving a handshake between two leaders, but a display of India's self-respect and strength on the global diplomatic stage.
Implications Ranging From Body Language to Diplomacy
In global politics, leaders communicate powerful messages through body language far more than words. John Bolton's revelation delivers three primary strategic messages. First, India no longer stands before superpower America as a junior partner, but as an equal power. Second, psychological control in diplomacy allows you to neutralise an opponent's mind game using their own tactics, which automatically strengthens your standing at the negotiating table. Third, the world consistently respects strong and confident leaders, and Prime Minister Modi's handshake symbolizes India's rising global influence and fearless foreign policy. The same Trump who attempted to bend the entire world through his inward yank was met with a single handshake from Prime Minister Modi that firmly established that the new India refuses to bow down to external pressure.
