Did Obama Really Chew Gum During The D-Day Ceremony? Twitter Thinks So
Did President Barack Obama chew gum during yesterday’s solemn anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion in Normandy?
“Gum-gate” maybe?
Some Twitter users in France and here in the States seem to think so.
Politico reports that “Some French viewers and critics on the right slammed President Barack Obama on Twitter for a lapse in etiquette after the president could be seen chewing gum at Friday’s ceremony in France honoring the 70th anniversary of D-Day.” Apparently the president was shown on TV chewing gum just as Queen Elizabeth II was being introduced.
According to a translation of several of the tweets, some French viewers of the ceremony were less than impressed with the president’s decorum. Representative tweets include that “Barack Obama and his chewing gum disgust me. What a lack of respect; it’s revolting,” “Barack Obama with his chewing gum; he respects nothing. He’s funny, this guy,” “It’s a D-Day Commemoration, and journalists are talking about Obama’s chewing gum,” and “Obama, didn’t your mother ever teach you not to chew gum when you’re on TV?”
The American Thinker suggested that the president might have been chewing Nicorette to avoid the craving to light up a cigarette, but took a very harsh view of the whole incident:
“But really, couldn’t he fight off the urge some other way? For two hours? To honor the dead and respect the solemnity of the occasion? Does he have any idea how it looks for the president of the United States to be chomping away like a two-bit pool hall hustler while the audience, world leaders, and even the media act respectfully and recognize the gravity of the event?”
On this side of the Atlantic, various Twitter uses also expressed their opinion on what could perhaps be a sticky situation:
Watching D-Day celebrations. Unfortunately Obama is being very American and chewing gum. No class at all
— AlanWM (@alanm888) June 6, 2014
Can not believe it…..at 70th D-Day service at Ouistreham, Pres Obama is chewing gum like a cow chewing its’ cud. Unbelievable. — theloon (@theloon) June 6, 2014
I think Obama is great but him sitting there chewing gum is a massive no no from me.
— Christopher Golds (@chrisgolds) June 6, 2014
Sorry but I think it is very disrespectful of President Obama to be chewing gum at such a solemn occasion!!!! Grrrrr #normandie2014 — Re inventing me (@vixben1965) June 6, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTLwhZ0TtaU
Do you think it’s a big deal if President Obama chewed gum during the D-Day ceremony?
