Popular podcast host and MMA commentator Joe Rogan recently shared an amusing anecdote about his encounters with former President Donald Trump and the infamous “power move” handshake that has become a signature greeting for the business mogul-turned-politician.
Speaking candidly about his first meeting with Trump at a UFC event, Rogan described how he anticipated Trump’s notorious handshake technique and prepared accordingly.
“I shook his hand. I’m like, ‘Oh, I know what he’s about to do,’ so I f*cking anchored myself,” Rogan recounted. “Not today, son. Not today.”
According to Rogan, he successfully resisted Trump’s initial attempt to pull him forward—a move that has caught many world leaders and celebrities off guard in the past. The handshake standoff apparently ended in something of a draw, with Rogan noting they were “hanging on for a while.”
However, Trump apparently learned from the experience. When they met again at another UFC event, the former president got the upper hand—literally.
“I’ll tell you what happened,” Rogan explained. “I’m sitting down and he looks at me and he goes like this, and he gets up, starts walking towards me. I get up and I reach over with my hand and he gets me and I’m over.”
Acknowledging defeat in their second handshake encounter, Rogan admitted with a hint of admiration, “He got me good. He got me good. This [guy] learns from his mistakes.”
Trump’s distinctive handshake style has been well-documented throughout his business career and presidency. Body language experts have often characterized it as a power move designed to assert dominance in social interactions.
His handshake encounters with world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have generated significant media attention.
For his part, Rogan seemed to take the exchange in good humor, recognizing the moment as part of the unique experience of interacting with one of America’s most unconventional political figures.
