Clinton, Trump Don't Shake Hands Before Debate
ST. LOUIS (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It was an awkward moment inside the debate hall at Washington University in St. Louis as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump didn't shake hands.
NOW: The 2016 presidential candidates take the stage for tonight's #debate https://t.co/hECQavik1P pic.twitter.com/KtO59PDsd6
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 10, 2016
The icy moment comes after Trump held a press conference with women who have accused former President Bill Clinton of sexual assault.
CBS News contributor and pollster Frank Luntz tweeted his focus group did not like Clinton "leaving Trump hanging on the opening handshake."
Those on social media took notice of the non-handshake at the start of the debate.
No handshake!? That's like PhiPhi not hugging Alyssa... Oh lawrd this #debate is going to be EXTRA!
— Laganja Estranja ????️⚧️ (@LaganjaEstranja) October 10, 2016
No handshake... I love it. @HillaryClinton is all like "Keep that hand away from me, @realDonaldTrump!"
— Jackie Beat (@JACKIEBEAT) October 10, 2016
No handshake. Beginning of a blood bath. #debate
— Jacqueline Emerson (@jackie_emerson) October 10, 2016
Worst Handshake Since pic.twitter.com/u68JUVsWYZ
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) October 10, 2016
BREAKING: NO HANDSHAKE.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 10, 2016
WOW. #PresidentialDebate pic.twitter.com/7WEktTvvZ4
Wow! No handshake between Trump and Clinton.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) October 10, 2016
No handshake. Good idea HRC. Who knows where those hands have been? #debates
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) October 10, 2016
No handshake! Press room just broke out into an extended "oooohhhh."
— Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) October 10, 2016
CLINTON TURNS DOWN HANDSHAKE.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 10, 2016
Bill Clinton never faced any criminal charges in relation to the allegations, and a lawsuit over an alleged rape was dismissed. He did settle a lawsuit with one of the women who claimed harassment.
Trump refused to answer questions from reporters about his own aggressive sexual remarks about women during the meeting in a hotel conference room with Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick and Kathleen Willey. Kathy Shelton, a fourth woman who appeared with Trump, was a 12-year-old Arkansas sexual assault victim whose alleged assailant was defended by Hillary Clinton.
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