Donald Trump, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar greet each other in traditional Indian way amid coronavirus outbreak

US President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar addressed one another in the traditional Indian way of namaste at the White House on 12th March, which they said was mandatory in the current point in time of coronavirus.

Donald Trump and Leo Varadkar, who is of Indian orgin, greeted each other doing nameste when reporters asked them as to how the two leaders greeted each other.

"We did not shake hands today. We looked at each other and said what we are going to do. You know, sort of a weird feeling," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House along with Varadkar.

When another reporter asked if they shook hands, the Irish Prime Minister joined his hands in the namaste pose, showing the reporters how he greeted the US President. Donald Trump too joined in with the namaste pose.

"I just got back from India. And I did not shake any hands there. And it's very easy, because they go like this," Trump said.

Donald Trump also exhibited the Japanese way of addressing – the bowing of head. "They (India and Japan) were ahead of the curve," Trump remarked, even as he said bowing and namaste gave him a strange feeling.

"I have never been a big hand-shaker, you probably heard. But once you become a politician, shaking hands is very normal. It's a very strange feeling when people walk up and say 'hi'," he said.

"It almost feels impersonal or feels like you're being rude, but we just can't afford to think like that for the next few weeks," Varadkar told reporters.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday stated that coronavirus ‘is a controllable pandemic’. The number of Covid-19 cases in the world has reached 125,293, with over 4,600 deaths.

Also Read: Coronavirus affect on Petrol, Diesel price: After WHO declares COVID-19 pandemic, fuel price plunges

Also Read: Coronavirus: Covid-19 outbreak 'matter of concern', says S Jaishankar as total cases climbed to 73