MOSCOW, September 24 (RIA Novosti) - President Barack Obama has been widely criticized for saluting the Marine Corps while holding a cup of coffee in his hand as he stepped out of his helicopter in New York, where he has arrived to make a speech at the UN General Assembly.
The Youtube.com video of the event, which was initially posted by the White House on its official Instagram, was denounced as “disrespectful to the country and the troops.”
“As the Commander-in-Chief, President Obama has the authority to send our troops into harm’s way,” read one of the comments. “The least he can do is offer a proper salute to the men and women who have pledged their lives to follow his orders.”
According to the US military charter, one does not salute if his hands are full.