An aide of Ms May revealed her anxiety after the close encounter with Mr Trump. The leaders were filmed holding hands as they walked together.
In an upcoming BBC documentary, Trump Takes on the World, Ms May’s joint chief of staff Fiona McLeod Hill said the move “took as all by surprise,” The Telegraph reports.
She added: “She couldn’t really take her hand back, so she was stuck.
Theresa May aimed to get Mr Trump to back Nato. The two are seen here in London (Image: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty)
“And the first thing she said [afterwards] was: ‘I need to call Philip just to let him know that I’ve been holding hands with another man before it hits the media.’”