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After two weeks of what one Washington Post writer calls "nearly unrelenting disaster ofbad decisions and bad news," Donald Trump embarked on his first overseas trip as president to visitSaudi Arabia on Saturday.

Some supporters and conservative websitesexultedas soon ashe stepped off the plane quick to contrast it with a similar meeting at the start of Obama'spresidency.

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US President Donald Trump and White House officials take part in a ceremonial sword dance in Saudi Arabia.

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US President Donald Trump and White House officials take part in a ceremonial sword dance in Saudi Arabia.

He did not bow to the king. Not right away, at least.

Obama'sbent-waist handshakewithKing Abdullah caused one of the great furors of his first year as president.

Republicansran a political adabout the bow in 2009; the White Housepress secretary unconvincinglydenied it happened;and Trump was one of many whocited it years later as a symbol of Obama's weakness "he begs and pleads and bows."

Understandable, then, that Trump's firm, verticalhandshake when he greetedthe Saudi king's successor was seen by many as"a lesson in American exceptionalism."

But then, later that day: was that a ?

A bow? Surely not, someinsisted, after watching Trump bend his knees, slump forward and bob his headto let King Salman place the honorary collar of Saudi Arabia's founderaround his neck.

He's just"bending over," one supportedsuggested.

"He's receiving an award."

"More of a squat than a bow."

The White House did not immediately respond when asked if Trump had softenedhis position on bowing, aftercriticising Obama about it on more than one occasion.

Whatever he was doing with the king, Trumpappears to have left his Washington troublesonly to walk into the same quagmire of diplomaticbody language as so many presidents past.

It's not clear why, exactly, Obama's gesture to the king"It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller," an anonymous aideinsisted toPolitico in 2009.caused him so much trouble.

President George H.W. Bush haddone the same thingto a Japanese emperor, as the New York Times noted. And the second President Bush diplomaticallykissedandheld handswith Saudi royalty.

But Obama's alleged bow, less thanthreemonths into his presidency, constituted a"shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate" to some asthe Washington Times put it.

When it was followed by a deep bowtothe Japanese emperor, Obamaenduredyears of mockery in which hisevery head tilt risked being calledprostration,with sneering headlines cataloguedby the Atlantic: Obama bows to the mayor of Tampa; Obama bows to a robot.

"American presidents do not bow before foreign dignitaries, whether they are princes, kings, or emperors,"the Weekly Standard chided.

Trump sure wouldn't, at least, as he made clear on Twitter several times before his presidential campaign.

And during it.

Many observers could not resist a superficial comparison to the past when hebegan his foreign tour.

"Trump shakes hands with Saudi leader, doesn't bow as Obama appeared to do," asFox News put it.

"How Trump just greeted Saudi Arabia's king is remarkably different than how Obama did in 2009,"the Blaze remarked, noting that Trump shookthe king's hand (though Obama has donethat too) and his wife did not wear a hijab (neither didMichelle Obama.)

But on the homepage of the Arab dailyAsharq al-Awsat, and the snarky feeds of many Trump critics, focused onadifferent picture.

And while some insisted Trump's little dip could not compare to his predecessor's manifold acts of humility, one of the president'stop political backersmade no excuses:

In fact, Trump bowedno more or less than other presidents who have worn the collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud, which the kingdombestows as an honour on foreign dignitaries.

Trump did it. Obama did it. Bush did it.

And at the risk of recalling that other greatcontroversy Russian President Vladmir Putin did it too.

There was no sign any of this was clouding Trump's trip. On the same morning of his upright handshake and maybe-bow, he took part in another long tradition of American officialson trips abroad:

Stilteddancing.

Washington Post

The rest is here:
Donald Trump mocked Barack Obama for bowing to a Saudi king ...