Trump’s not alone: Russian PM Medvedev muddles Asean handshake

From left, Thai Prime Minster Prayut Chan-o-cha, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, do the “ASEAN-way handshake” on stage during the opening ceremony at the Asean Summit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, in Manila, Philippines. Trump initially did the handshake incorrectly, and Medvedev is doing it incorrectly. AP Photo

United States President Donald Trump wasn’t the only one confused during the “traditional handshake” at the opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) opening ceremony on Monday.

Photos released by Malacañang showed Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev failed to cross his arms during the Asean handshake.

But the chain was not broken as Medvedev found a way to connect his arms with the two leaders  beside him.

During the handshake, Trump also struggled with his kind of handshake. Trump was seen smiling after he realized he was doing the handshake the wrong way.

U.S. President Donald Trump, center, reacts as he does the “Asean-way handshake” with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, left, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on stage during the opening ceremony at the Asean Summit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, in Manila, Philippines. AP Photo

During the traditional handshake, the leaders extend their right arm over their left and shake the opposite hands of those next to him. /jpv

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