People spot King of the Netherlands’ surprising response to Donald Trump handshake at NATO summit

This week, U.S. President Donald Trump stayed at the royal palace of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands during his visit to The Hague for the 2025 NATO Summit.

The summit brought together 33 world leaders to discuss pressing issues such as the Iran-Israel conflict, the war in Ukraine, global economics, and international defense strategies.

As part of his trip, Trump, 79, was one of the few leaders invited to stay at Huis Ten Bosch palace, where King Willem-Alexander resides with Queen Máxima and their three daughters.

Upon arriving at the palace on June 24, Trump joined other NATO leaders for a formal dinner hosted by the Dutch royal family.

A moment from the visit quickly went viral online: a brief “handshake tug of war” between King Willem-Alexander and Trump, captured by local media and widely shared on social platforms.

In the footage, Trump extends his hand, but the King quickly pulls his arm back to his side, causing Trump to lean awkwardly forward—prompting viewers to declare the King had “won” the handshake.

Reactions online were mixed, with some poking fun at Trump’s apparent loss, while others defended him, suggesting he was simply being respectful as a guest in another country.