Former US President Donald Trump has been branded as behaving like a 'baby' after he pointedly refused to shake hands with fellow Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during the latest GOP debate.
The awkward moment, caught on camera, showed Trump turning away as Ramaswamy extended his hand in greeting. Political analysts and social media users were quick to criticise the move, calling it 'petty' and 'immature'.
Debate Tensions Rise
The incident occurred during what was already a heated exchange between the candidates. Trump, who remains the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, has previously clashed with Ramaswamy on policy issues.
'This is exactly the kind of behaviour that turns voters off,' said one political commentator. 'At a time when the party needs unity, we're seeing playground politics.'
Social Media Reacts
Online reactions were swift, with #TrumpTantrum trending on X (formerly Twitter) within hours of the debate. Many users compared the former president's actions to a child refusing to share toys.
Ramaswamy himself appeared unfazed by the snub, later telling reporters: 'I'm here to talk about the issues that matter to Americans, not handshake etiquette.'
As the 2024 election campaign heats up, such personal clashes between candidates are likely to become more frequent, leaving voters to wonder whether substance or spectacle will dominate the race.
