At a high-stakes summit in Alaska, former President Donald Trump greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a handshake—on a full red carpet with jets flying overhead in a ceremonial flyover.

What took the internet by storm wasn’t just their friendly greeting—it was the highlighted moment Trump pulled Putin in with a comfortable pat on the back, a gesture of familiarity and dominance that body language experts say is rare and revealing. Putin, for his part, maintained poise and control, keeping his grip in a relaxed but firm, “knuckles-up” position.

This handshake wasn’t just a diplomatic nicety—it became a symbol of political theater, capturing what many are calling an unexpected power dynamic between two global figures.