WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar greeted each other with a ‘Namaste’ gesture.
They did not shake hands as most of the countries tighten restrictions on social contact amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Trump and Varadkar acted on official health advice by making a bow gesture at the White House.
President Trump said he felt ‘weird’ with the non-contact gesture, reports said.
Trump said: “We didn’t shake hands. We looked at each other and said, ‘what are we going to do?’
He added that since he just got back from India, he didn’t shake any hands there and it was very easy.
Trump also referred to the traditional way of greetings in India and Japan, adding that the countries were ‘ahead of the curve’.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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