claim: An image shows that President Obama bowed to a Saudi King while President Trump did not.
origin: In May 2017, memes and macrosÂ comparing photographs of President Barack Obamaâ€™s and President Donald Trumpâ€™s respective trips to Saudi Arabia appearedÂ after President Trumpâ€™s visit to the country. Images appeared to show Obama bowing at the waist to a Saudi leader, and Trump standing straight in a similar situation: The meme was widely shared in some circles, along with comments and suggestions about how a president of the U.S. should behaveÂ while on diplomatic missions. The hyperpartisanÂ web siteÂ The American Mirror,Â for instance, declared that America was â€œGreat Againâ€ becauseÂ Trump, unlike Obama, refused to bow to the Saudi King.Â These two photographs are both real, but lackÂ context. The photograph of Obama was taken in 2009 at the G20 summit, and shows the former U.S. presidentÂ appearing to bow to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud. At the time, some outletsÂ criticized Obama for the gesture, calling it a â€œshocking display of fealtyâ€: A White House aide later denied that Obama was actually bowing: < â€œIt wasnâ€™t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and heâ€™s taller than King Abdullah.â€ > President Obamaâ€™s purportedÂ bow becameÂ a continuous talking pointÂ throughout his presidency, with his detractors portrayingÂ the gesture as a sign of weakness. In 2012, Trump used itÂ to question Obamaâ€™s diplomatic skills: < .@BarackObama bowed to the Saudi King in publicâ€“yet the Dems are questioning @MittRomneyâ€˜s diplomatic skills. â€” Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2012 > Although many painted Obamaâ€™s bowing as a sign of weakness or deference, heÂ was not the first sitting president to bow (or to be criticized for bowing) to a foreign leader. President Nixon bowedÂ to Japan Emperor Hirohito in 1971 and referred to him andÂ his wife as â€˜Your Imperial Majesties.'â€ Bill Clinton was criticized for bowing in 1994 toÂ Japanâ€™s Emperor Akihito.Â George W. Bush was mocked for holding hands withÂ Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in 2005. Even PresidentÂ Eisenhower bowed to Franceâ€™s leader Charles de Gaulle. Although these gestures may be viewed as weak by some, bowing can also be a sign of respect: < In an online State Department posting from 2007 titled â€œProtocol for the Modern Diplomat,â€ envoys are advised to be aware of greeting rituals such as kisses, handshakes or bows and to follow a countryâ€™s tradition. â€œFailure to abide with tradition may be interpreted as rudeness or a lack of respect for colleagues,â€ advises the posting, which make no mention of whether the rules should apply to a President as well. > The photograph of Trump is also genuine. That image was taken on 20 May 2017 afterÂ the President touched down in Riyadh and King Salman Abdullah bin Abdulaziz greeted him. A video of the meetingÂ shows that Trump did not bow: < Funny, unlike Trump, Obama didnâ€™t bow to the King of Saudi Arabia when receiving the Order of King Abdulaziz. Embarrassing Trump voters! . pic.twitter.com/3VZziGUNam â€” Janice Jhana Elks (@OMAHAGEMGIRL) May 20, 2017 > This meme is also misleading. It shows President Obama removing the medal from his shoulders. In reality, Obama, like Trump, bowed his head as the honor was bestowed: