Politics is usually a game of shadows and snarky press releases, but every so often, something happens that just feels… weirdly human. That’s exactly what went down on the tarmac at LAX last January. You’ve probably seen the clip of the Gavin Newsom Trump handshake—it was everywhere. One minute they’re calling each other names on X, and the next, they’re basically hugging in front of Air Force One.
Honestly, it caught everyone off guard.
For years, Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump have been the ultimate political foils. Newsom, the slick, progressive face of the "California Resistance," and Trump, the populist firebrand who loves to target the Golden State as a symbol of everything he thinks is wrong with the country. But as the smoke from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires still hung in the air, the two men stood face-to-face.
The Tarmac Greeting: Breaking Down the Gavin Newsom Trump Handshake
It wasn't just a quick "how do you do." When Trump stepped off the plane on January 24, 2025, Newsom was the first person there to greet him. There was no hesitation. Newsom stepped forward, and they shared a firm, surprisingly long handshake.
Actually, it was more than a handshake. They embraced.
You could see the cameras flashing like crazy in the background. It was a bizarre moment of cognitive dissonance for anyone who’s followed their public feud. Trump had spent the previous weeks threatening to withhold federal aid and calling the governor "Newscum." Newsom had just called a special session of the California legislature specifically to "Trump-proof" the state’s laws.
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Yet, there they were. Smiling. Shaking hands. Talking like old buddies.
Trump told the press right there on the tarmac, "I appreciate the governor coming out and meeting me very much." Newsom, for his part, looked directly at the cameras and thanked the president for being there. It felt like a glitch in the Matrix, but it was actually a very calculated piece of political theater.
Why the Handshake Happened
The reality is that both men needed something. Newsom needed federal disaster money. California was reeling from the Palisades and Altadena fires, and the state's budget—while massive—can't handle a catastrophic "bomb-like" disaster alone. Newsom knew that playing nice for five minutes could mean billions for his constituents.
Trump, on the other hand, was newly back in office and wanted to look "presidential." Touring a disaster zone is the oldest play in the book. By shaking Newsom’s hand, he signaled that he was willing to work with even his fiercest enemies—at least for the afternoon.
What the Body Language Experts Noticed
If you watch the footage closely, the Gavin Newsom Trump handshake was a masterclass in power dynamics. Newsom often has a habit of "pointing" or using expressive hand gestures (which Trump later mocked in a White House meeting, calling it "weird hand action"). But on the tarmac, Newsom was all business.
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- The Grip: It was a firm, "equal" grip. Neither man seemed to be doing the "tug" move that Trump is famous for.
- The Lean: Newsom leaned in close. It wasn't a defensive posture; it was an engagement posture.
- The Eye Contact: They didn't look away. They stayed locked in for the duration of their brief conversation.
It’s easy to think this was all fake. Kinda like when you see two rival boxers hug after a fight. But in politics, the "handshake" is often the only bridge left standing between two warring factions.
The White House Follow-Up
The tarmac meeting wasn't the end of it. A couple of weeks later, in February 2025, Newsom actually traveled to the White House. He sat down in the Oval Office with Trump to hammer out the details of the disaster aid.
According to reports from The Guardian and the Governor’s own office, that meeting was "productive." Newsom even thanked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for getting over 1,000 personnel on the ground in California. It was a rare moment where the "Resistance" took a backseat to actual governing.
Of course, the peace didn't last. By mid-2025, the honeymoon was over.
Newsom’s team was back on social media mocking Trump’s "tiny hands," and Trump was back to blaming California’s "raking" policies for the fires. It’s a cycle. The handshake was a pause button, not a stop button.
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Why People are Still Talking About It in 2026
We’re now a year removed from that LAX greeting, and the political landscape has only gotten more fractured. Newsom is nearing the end of his term (he can’t run again in 2026), and he’s clearly looking at a national future.
The Gavin Newsom Trump handshake remains a point of contention for both sides.
- Progressives felt Newsom was "normalizing" Trump by embracing him.
- MAGA supporters saw it as Newsom "bending the knee" to get federal cash.
- Centrists saw it as a glimmer of hope that the two parties can still function during a crisis.
Basically, it depends on which "team" you're on. But the fact remains: when the stakes are high enough—like entire neighborhoods being turned to ash—even the most bitter rivals find a way to shake hands.
Actionable Insights from the Handshake Saga
If there's anything to take away from this weird chapter of American politics, it's these three things:
- Optics Matter: A single photograph can change a narrative faster than a 1,000-page policy paper. That handshake told a story of "unity" that neither man’s rhetoric could ever match.
- The Power of Necessity: Never underestimate what politicians will do when they need something. Newsom needed money; Trump needed a "statesman" moment. They both got what they wanted.
- Don't Believe Everything You See on X (Twitter): The public vitriol between these two is real, but it’s also a brand. Behind the scenes, and occasionally on an airport tarmac, the "business of government" still requires them to speak.
If you're following the 2026 election cycle, keep this moment in mind. It shows that even in an era of extreme polarization, the "political handshake" is still a tool of the trade. Keep an eye on Newsom's upcoming State of the State address—he’s likely to reference these "collaborative efforts" as he starts positioning himself for whatever comes next after his governorship ends.