The Duterte fist (or Duterte fist bump) is a hand gesture made by raising a clenched fist at chest or eye level.[1] The gesture serves as a signature political symbol of Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, his administration and allies, and his supporters.[2]

President Rodrigo Duterte with his signature gesture in April 2019

Usage

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Duterte (right) does his signature pose with actor Steven Seagal in Malacañang Palace on October 12, 2017.

During meetings with Duterte, some visitors and personalities would often pose for photos with Duterte doing the signature fist gesture;[1] these included Chinese actor Jackie Chan,[3] Chinese tycoon Jack Ma, Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.[1]

Some critics of Duterte view the fist gesture to represent Duterte's War on Drugs.[1] During his visit to the Philippines in 2017, Australian spy chief Nick Warner has been criticized for doing the fist gesture alongside Duterte in a photo shoot; US President Donald Trump was also warned from doing the gesture during his planned trip to the Philippines later that year.[1] Supreme Court Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda in 2019 was also criticized for doing the gesture moments after being appointed by Duterte over concerns of independence of the judiciary from the executive department.[2]

The Duterte fist was included in the new logo of Duterte's party, PDP-Laban, as part of the party's rebranding of itself in Duterte's image since 2016.[4]

Online use

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The Fisted Hand Sign Emoji (U+1F44A 👊 FISTED HAND SIGN) has been used to represent the gesture in social media.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Trump warned on Duterte fist salute in Manila". BusinessWorld. Agence France Presse. November 12, 2017. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b Corrales, Nestor (6 August 2019). "New SC associate justice does a fist bump Duterte-style and draws flak". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. ^ Malasig, Jeline (30 August 2019). "Duterte got Jackie Chan to make this political gesture". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  4. ^ "PDP-Laban declares support for Marcos". The Philippine Star. March 22, 2022. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
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