Body language expert breaks down 'awkward' handshake between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer at the White House

Keir Starmer met with Donald Trump at the White House yesterday but a video of the pair greeting has got people talking.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with POTUS Donald Trump in Washington on February 27 and a body language expert has weighed in on a brief interaction they had when Starmer arrived.

A video showcasing the pair meeting has also begun to do the rounds on social media with many commenting on their 'awkward' handshake.

Trump and Starmer shook hands as reporters snapped pictures and the US president appeared to compliment the UK leader on his suit.

However, some have argued there is more than meets the eye to this brief interaction.

One user commented: “Starmer's very awkward considering this is a ‘special relationship’s’. It's almost as though he called Trump's politics 'offensive, shocking and disturbing'."

Another person added: “How awkward and immaterial can one person look fgs. [Starmer] looks like a teenager posing at a meet and greet.”

A third added: “Starmer looks like a school boy at the Headmaster’s office! Not oozing confidence is he?”

And another wrote: “The body language is everything here. Keir looks so uneasy and nervous. Embarrassing for Britain.”

Trump greeted Starmer as he arrived at the White House (Margo Martin/Twitter)

Body language expert Adam Lyons, who commented on behalf of BetUS, spoke to UNILAD about this interaction and claimed the pair essentially locked horns in a game for dominance.

Lyons theorised: “Trump pushed his hand over on the handshake to ‘dominate’ and held it too long.. Starmer felt it and even moved his hand to the sleeve after it to ‘fix’ his clothing.

“Also Trump did a shoulder grab to assert dominance. And then Starmer tried to fight back by putting his hand on his shoulder too… but wasn’t able to get the leverage.”

The UK government said the meeting was a success (Carl Court - Pool/Getty Images)

Despite this interaction, the meeting was said to be a success on the UK’s part as Starmer was able to secure a commitment to NATO from Trump and started on the building blocks of a new trade deal between the two nations that could spare the UK from tariffs.

A press release by the UK government said: “They spoke about the fair, balanced and reciprocal economic relationship that the two countries enjoy.

"They agreed their teams should work together to deepen this relationship, and to work together to agree a trade deal focused on tech.

“On defense and security, they agreed that the strength of the UK and US’s intelligence and defense relationship is unrivalled. The Prime Minister underlined the announcement he made this week to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent.

“The leaders agreed that on Ukraine, talks must work towards a lasting peace.”