The BBC put out video this morning of Trump saluting a N. Korean general that was aired on N. Korean TV.
Watch:
North Korean TV has aired its first footage of the #TrumpKimSummit. Look out for the handshake/salute confusion 55 seconds in. pic.twitter.com/JS5yEUprgz
— BBC Monitoring (@BBCMonitoring) June 14, 2018
As the BBC suggests, there was a little confusion here. Trump goes in for the handshake and the N. Korean General salutes him. So Trump reciprocates and salutes the general. Then they both shake hands.
Of course Trump shouldn’t have been saluting a commie general, but clearly it caught him off guard and he just reacted; I don’t think there was malice and forethought in his heart. The guy saluted him so he returned the gesture.
But even so, his people should tell him just how bad this looks and not to do it again.
Of course, he may choose to do it in the future, especially if he wants to keep buttering up KJU. If that’s the case we’ll certainly be more critical in the future.