Viral

People Seem To Think Trump Shoved Another NATO Leader Out Of The Way To Get Top Billing

Despite his staffers’ apparent attempts to curb his cable news and Twitter-fueled reactionary moments while abroad, Donald Trump has been producing plenty of viral (and unflattering) moments during his first foreign trip as president. From a hugely popular photo of him, Ivanka and Melania posing with Pope Francis, to repeated instances of “Swatghazi,” the all-seeing eye of the internet (and that orb) is never too far behind the Donald. Like when he apparently shoved aside a fellow NATO leader for a prime spot before the press pool’s cameras.

According to CNBC correspondent Steve Kopack, the moment in question came when NATO leaders gathered together for a photo op at the beginning of their summit in Brussels, Belgium. In what appears to be a forceful manner, Trump places his right hand on Montenegro Prime Minister Duško Markovic’s right arm and shoves him aside while stepping ahead of him. Kopack posted the short clip, and a slowed-down GIF of the exchange, to Twitter.

https://twitter.com/SteveKopack/status/867759838067118080

It’s hard to tell whether or not Trump and Markovic’s interaction is negative, especially since the latter appears to briefly pat the president on the back while still smiling. Yet through it all, Trump’s attention seems focused on what’s in front of him — the press photographers — and not on whatever Markovic or anyone else’s response to the supposed shove might have been.

Needless to say, journalists and other Twitter users chimed in in droves, with the majority believing Trump had in fact shoved Markovic aside.

https://twitter.com/Rob_Flaherty/status/867762681171779584

Meanwhile, Politico’s Tara Palmeri brought up the matter with a White House official, who said Trump and Markovic’s exchange looked more like a “casual greeting.”

https://twitter.com/tarapalmeri/status/867764009025622016

However, considering the pool report’s account of Trump’s mingling (or lack thereof) with his fellow NATO leaders, the friendliness of the president’s greeting remains in doubt. Especially since “some of the leaders interacted with one another on stage, but not Trump.”

Whatever the case may be, nothing could stop the internet from reacting in kind to the apparently rude gesture.

https://twitter.com/williamlegate/status/867762140387590144

https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/867761991737253888

https://twitter.com/CillizzaCNN/status/867760706472611842

https://twitter.com/drewmagary/status/867761292458811392

(Via CNBC)