Stehlik stressed the importance of not always trusting a photo — in this case, a peck on the cheek from Brigitte Macron is frozen in time.
The other concern, says Stehlik, is whether politicians should remain neutral in their greetings or try to follow cultural norms. In this case, Trump and Brigitte Macron went for the quintessential French greeting, a kiss on each cheek, initiated by the wife of Emmanuel Macron.
"The question is whether one wants to be perceived as sophisticated about certain cultural greetings, or whether one is going for a degree of intimacy," Stehlik said. "The range of intent is quite broad. I like to look at who appears dominant or making the first move."