Trump's return to world stage symbolized by triumphant handshake with Macron

In the weeks since his Nov. 5 presidential election win, Donald Trump has been a whirlwind of activity in preparation for his return to the nation's top job.

A strong sign of Trump's return to the world stage came over the weekend during his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, when he was warmly welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron, to whom he offered a bold and dominant handshake that took the Internet by storm, as Fox News reports.

Warmly welcomed in Paris

According to reporting from NPR, Trump was greeted by Macron with great enthusiasm as well as a hearty dose of official pomp and collegial admiration.

Trump's arrival at the Elysee Palace was marked by Macron's emphasis on the close ties between the U.S. and France, a sentiment underscored by a series of posed photos, hearty handshakes, and acknowledgment of what the French president said was his nation's “great honor” to have the president-elect back “five years later.”

Though Macron's statements of cooperation were noteworthy on their own, it was a particularly gregarious -- and arguably dominant -- handshake from Trump that spurred a host of reactions from users online.

Netizens react

It was not long before Internet commentators of all descriptions began to weigh in on Trump's re-emergence in the global political arena.

An X user named George observed, “President Trump is back to dominating world leaders with his handshake. Macron is going to need a hand massage after all that twisting and pulling Trump did to him.”

John Lefevre mused, “The Trump-Macron handshake is hilarious. Because it happened twice. And you know Macron was told to prepare and probably practiced and then still got dominated.”

Conservative commentator Drew Hernandez said, “President Trump manhandles French President Emmanuel Macron with one of the most dominating handshakes I've ever seen. We are so back.”

Reintroducing America's dominance

Macron was not the only high-profile figure with whom Trump engaged on what was his first trip abroad since winning another term in the White House.

Trump, along with the French leader, spent 35 minutes in discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country's ongoing conflict with Russia is a war Trump has vowed to help end.

The president-elect also sat down with Britain's Prince William, as the BBC noted, someone to whom he referred as a “good man,” and the two had what Buckingham Palace described as a “warm and friendly” chat, which is arguably a positive sign for the enduring, special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K, at a time of leadership transition.