Politics obamajustin trudeauenrique pena nieto

These Three Men Lead Countries But Can't Seem To Manage A Handshake

C'mon guys!
Open Image Modal
By 

Senior Editor, Breaking News, HuffPost

U.S. President Barack Obama, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could really work on their handshake skills.

The three met in Canada this week to discuss trade, energy and other issues. At what should have been a simple photo op, the three showed the world that the most simple of movements can be perplexing to world leaders:

Awkward.

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your will go a long way.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Obama's Handshakes Around The World
Raul Castro, President Of Cuba(01 of30)
Open Image Modal
In this image from TV, U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, in the rain for a memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela, Tuesday Dec. 10, 2013. (credit:AP Photo/SABC Pool)
Cristina Fernandez, President Of Argentina(02 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama meets with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Hamid Karzai, President Of Afghanistan(03 of30)
Open Image Modal
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands after a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (credit:Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Julia Gillard, Prime Minister Of Australia(04 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obamaand Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard shake hands during a bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Nov. 16, 2011. (credit:Jim Watson/Getty Images)
Dilma Rousseff, President Of Brazil(05 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff during a joint press conference at Palacio do Planalto in Brasilia on March 19, 2011. (credit:Jim Watson/Getty Images)
Hun Sen, Prime Minister Of Cambodia(06 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) reach out to shake hands on arrival at the Peace Palace for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and US summit in Phnom Penh on Nov. 19, 2012 following the 21st ASEAN Leaders Summit. (credit:ROMEO GACAD/Getty Images)
Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Of Canada(07 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Canadas Prime Minister Stephen Harper in bilateral meeting during the G20 Summit, Tuesday, June 19, 2012, in Los Cabos, Mexico. (credit:Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Sebastian Pinera, President Of Chile(08 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama greets Chilean President Sebastian Pinera before a dinner at the Washington Convention Center during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2010. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
Xi Jinping, President Of China(09 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 14, 2012. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Juan Manuel Santos, President Of Colombia(10 of30)
Open Image Modal
Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos (R) and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands during a joint press conference in the framework of the VI Summit of the Americas at Casa de Huespedes in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Laura Chinchilla, President Of Costa Rica(11 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama and Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla shake hands at the end of their joint press conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, Friday, May 3, 2013. (credit:Moises Castillo/AP Photo)
Francois Hollande, President Of France(12 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama shakes hands with French President Francois Hollande on arrival for the G8 Summit Friday, May 18, 2012 at Camp David, Maryland. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Angela Merkel, Chancellor Of Germany(13 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a joint press conference following their meeting in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2011. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
Giorgio Napolitano, President Of Italy(14 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. (credit:Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)
Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Of Japan(15 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Park Geu-Hye, President Of South Korea(16 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama and South Korea President Park Geun-Hye shake hands at the conclusion of their joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Enrique Pena Nieto, President Of Mexico(17 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama, left, and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto shake hands following a news conference at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Benigno Aquino, President Of The Philippines(18 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines in the Oval Office at the White House on June 8, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (credit:Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Donald Tusk, Prime Minister Of Poland(19 of30)
Open Image Modal
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama during their meeting in Warsaw on May 28, 2011. (credit:Janek Skarzynski/Getty Images)
Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir Of Qatar(20 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 23, 2013. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Traian Basescu, President Of Romania(21 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets Romania's President Traian Basescu before a dinner at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Prague on April 8, 2010. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin, President Of Russia(22 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Russias President Vladimir Putin in a bilateral meeting during the G20 Summit, Monday, June 18, 2012, in Los Cabos, Mexico. (credit:Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King Of Saudi Arabia(23 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia during meetings in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 29, 2010. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Of Singapore(24 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama shakes hands with with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April, 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (credit:AP)
Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister Of Sweden(25 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (L) during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 2, 2009. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister Of Thailand(26 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra shake hands following the conclusion of their joint news conference at Thai Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Abdullah II, King Of Jordan(27 of30)
Open Image Modal
In this March 22, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama, left, and Jordan's King Abdullah II shake hands following their joint new conference at the King's Palace in Amman, Jordan. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Of Turkey(28 of30)
Open Image Modal
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their bilateral meeting in Seoul on March 25, 2012 on the eve of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
David Cameron, Prime Minister Of Great Britain(29 of30)
Open Image Modal
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron on arrival for the G8 Summit Friday, May 18, 2012 at Camp David, Maryland. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Hugo Chavez, Former President Of Venezuela(30 of30)
Open Image Modal
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) gives a book, The Open Veins of Latin America by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano to U.S. President Barack Obama during a multilateral meeting to begin during the Summit of the Americas at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Trinidad, April 18, 2009. (credit:Jim Watson/Getty Images)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip