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."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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".
-
The 8 best sci-fi series of all timethe week recommends Imagining — and fearing — the future continues to give us compelling and thoughtful television
-
The Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the Department of EducationThe Explainer The president aims to fulfill his promise to get rid of the agency
-
‘These attacks rely on a political repurposing’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
South Africa wraps up G20 summit boycotted by USSpeed Read Trump has been sparring with South Africa in recent months
-
Trump pushes new Ukraine peace planSpeed Read It involves a 28-point plan to end the war
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
The UK-made Storm Shadow missiles Ukraine is using in RussiaThe Explainer Ukraine reportedly deployed the long-range British missiles this week, following a tense meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump
-
Proposed Trump-Putin talks in Budapest on holdSpeed Read Trump apparently has no concrete plans to meet with Putin for Ukraine peace talks
-
What is Donald Trump planning in Latin America?Today’s Big Question US ramps up feud with Colombia over drug trade, while deploying military in the Caribbean to attack ships and increase tensions with Venezuela