A short video in which US President Barack Obama is shown saluting a Marine with a coffee cup in his hand prompted a negative reaction on social media Tuesday.
In the video posted by the White House, Mr. Obama descends the stairs of Air Force One helicopter — white cup in his right hand — after arriving in New York for the UN General Assembly.
When he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he salutes a Marine standing on his right without shifting the cup out of his hand.
“President Obama’s salute was incredibly disrespectful to the Marines,” said Christopher MacNeill on Twitter. “No way to justify that one.” “Disrespect to the maximum,” responded Rick Pohle.
The salute has become tradition for presidents when they encounter the Marines who stand at the bottom of the helicopter’s stairs.
Other presidents have been photographed doing awkward salutes. George W Bush tried it while holding his dog in 2001, CNN said.
