Five Awkward Presidential Moments Caught On Camera

Everyone has photos of funny and embarrassing moments or photos that didn’t turn out as expected. However, we have the choice to keep or delete any photos gone wrong.

But if you are the President of the United States, such images will go public anyway.

George W. Bush dodging footwear thrown at him

While our country’s leaders would not like these photos to be seen, of course, these awkward snapshots will be remembered for years to come.

Five years into the Iraq war, on December 14th, 2008, an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at US President George W. Bush as a protest against the war. Bush dodged the shoes and said he had no idea of the journalist’s reasons. However, throwing shoes is a sign of utter disrespect in the Muslim world.

Donald Trump’s lengthy handshake with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe

US President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in Washington on February 10th, 2017. This meeting will be remembered as the longest handshake between Trump and Abe, lasting 19 seconds.

Joe Biden stumbling and tripping when trying to board Air Force One

As US President Joe Biden climbed the ladder to board Air Force One in December 2021, he tripped thrice. Perhaps he was going too quickly, stumbling about halfway through. Joe Biden stood up, stumbled again, and even fell onto his knee on one of the steps.

But then, holding onto the railing, the US president boarded the plane.

President Donald Trump staring at a solar eclipse

US President Donald Trump watched the total solar eclipse on August 21st, 2017, without any protective eyewear.

Photos and videos of him doing that went viral and were ridiculed online, including jokes about the “fake media” that warned about this being dangerous to the eyes.

Barack Obama’s awkward lunch with Putin

In 2015, when Barack Obama and Putin met at a United Nations luncheon, it was another awkward face-to-face encounter as they never liked each other. Their handshake was purely formal, stiff, and detached. When holding out his hand, Putin put on a sly smile:; Obama ignored it and did not reciprocate. Both raised their glasses, but mutual personal antipathy was evident from their body language.