President Donald Trump squinted and pointed skyward before donning protective glasses to take in the solar eclipse at the White House. The president was joined by wife Melania, son Barron and top aides on Monday afternoon to view the spectacle from the portico overlooking the South Lawn. The White House originally said Trump would watch from the second-floor Truman balcony. Shortly after walking outside, the president looked up at the sky, squinted and pointed upward.
“Don’t look,” one staffer yelled from the White House lawn.
Trump then donned the protective eye-wear. Asked about the view, Trump gave a thumbs up. This is the first total solar eclipse to sweep the United States from coast to coast in nearly a century, although Washington experienced about 80 percent coverage of the sun. Fox News faithfully stood by the president as it called his looking at the Sun “perhaps the most impressive thing any president has ever done.” Twitter was abuzz with reactions to Trump’s disregard for rules. Some predicted the future headlines:
TODAY: Advisers Say Trump Will Show Restraint During Eclipse
— Jason O. Gilbert (@gilbertjasono) August 21, 2017
TOMORROW: Trump, Blinded and Drunk on Sun’s Rays, Pledges to Destroy the Moon
There was the inevitable Barack Obama conflict:
AIDE: You need to wear eclipse glasses.
— The Darkest Timeline Numbersmuncher (@NumbersMuncher) August 21, 2017
TRUMP: Did Obama wear them?
AIDE: Yes - it's a safety issue.
TRUMP: Then it's settled. No glasses. pic.twitter.com/gXQrDat96l
Someone even found the exact time when the eclipse was ordered:
And then of course North Korea got into the mix:
Donald Trump, squinting at partially eclipsed sun without protective lenses, proves himself to be an utter incompetent, jackass, and fool. pic.twitter.com/fG9iosnok1
— DPRK News Service (@DPRK_News) August 21, 2017
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTrump always has reasons for his actions though:
"But president, you need special glasses to look at the eclipse"
— Chris Fronzak (@FRONZ1LLA) August 21, 2017
Trump: FAKE NEWS pic.twitter.com/NYllaoD7mG
With inputs from AP