The internet erupts as Trump looks directly into the Sun
'I honestly didn't think there could be a way Trump could embarrass us just by watching a solar eclipse,' said one commentator
Yesterday's solar eclipse in the US came with numerous health warnings from scientists and experts.
"The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as 'eclipse glasses' or hand-held solar viewers," NASA said in a guide for viewing the eclipse safely.
"Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun."
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Despite these warnings — and the advice from a White House aide who shouted "Don’t look" as he took his glasses off — President Trump risked it all, not once, but twice.
Predictably this act of stupidity/bravery (delete as appropriate) did not go unnoticed by the Internet.
The New York Daily News even splashed the image of the President staring directly into the sun on its front page under the headline: "Not too bright!"
Others took to Twitter in equal parts amusement and astonishment.
Some even wondered if it was party of a deliberate strategy by the President.
Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, provoked further mirth when he described it as "perhaps the most impressive thing any president has ever done".
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