DONALD Trump may have held hands with Theresa May in the White House because he has a fear of stairs.

Stunning images of the two leaders’ intimate moment was captured by photographers and flashed around the world.

4 It has recently emerged Donald Trump may be scared of stairs and slopes Credit: Getty Images

4 The US President was snapped holding hands with Theresa May yesterday Credit: Getty Images

Taken as they walked from the building’s state rooms to the West Wing, it seemed to sum up how deeply they had bonded after a historic first meeting on Friday afternoon in Washington DC.

But an alternative explanation emerged that the US president suffers from bathmophobia - a fear of stairs or slopes.

Government sources in Washington DC said they had been told the New York property billionaire is uncomfortable with using either.

4 Government sources say Trump is uncomfortable using both stairs and slopes Credit: Getty Images

The 70-year-old president is thought to have grabbed Theresa May’s hand to steady himself as the pair walked down a ramp in a colonnade, before then rubbing it in thanks.

Trump’s phobia also means he refuses to visit one close aide’s office in the White House because it’s up a flight of stairs from the Oval Office.

Downing Street last night would not discuss the president’s alleged phobia, instead dubbing the hand holding “a chivalrous gesture”.

4 Downing Street called the hand holding a 'chivalrous gesture' by the President Credit: Getty Images

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Trump has previously confessed to being a 'germaphobic' - someone who is fearful of germs Credit: Getty Images

The PM’s spokeswoman said: “They were walking along and there is an unseen ramp.

“He offered his hand, which she took as they stepped down the ramp.”

Quizzed on why Trump took the PM's hand, the spokeswoman added: “They'd had a very friendly bilateral meeting, and we're getting on very well".

Earlier this month, President Trump confessed to also being “germaphobic”, as he rubbished claims that he had paid prostitutes to wee on a Moscow hotel bed that President Obama once slept in.