From botched handshakes to viral snubs, former U.S. President Donald Trump has had his fair share of awkward public moments. This photo gallery captures eight of his most cringe-worthy instances—whether it’s a rejected hand-hold from Melania, mispronouncing a celebrity’s name, or pushing a world leader. These moments went viral not just for their humor but for the insight they offer into his unique style of public behavior. Dive into this visual recap of Trump’s most talked-about awkward encounters that left the internet buzzing
Top 8 Awkward Moments of Donald Trump
1/8
Holding the Umbrella Solo
At a public event, Trump walked under his umbrella, leaving Melania standing in the rain a widely criticized gesture
2/8
Repeated Hand Hold Reject
On multiple occasions like in Israel and France Trump reached to hold Melania’s hand, only to be subtly rebuffed
3/8
Failed Air Kiss at Inauguration
During his 2025 swearing-in, Trump attempted to kiss Melania’s cheek but missed, awkwardly resulting in an air kiss
4/8
Unsteady Embrace with a Lawmaker
While greeting Rep. Kevin Cramer at a rally, Trump misread the hug intention, leading to an uncomfortable embrace
5/8
Clumsy Foreign Leader Handshakes
Famous for long, intense handshakes that left world leaders visibly uncomfortable—especially with Macron and Trudeau
6/8
Inauguration Glitches & Boos
From Carrie Underwood’s halted performance to boos for former presidents in attendance—his 2025 inauguration had several cringe moments
7/8
Pushing NATO Leaders
At the 2017 Brussels summit, Trump visibly shoved Montenegro’s prime minister sparking global unease
8/8
Mispronouncing Tua Tagovailoa’s Name
A White House event became awkward when Trump struggled repeatedly to pronounce the NFL star’s name—going viral
