Introduction
During a video call with NASA astronauts in April 2020, former US President Donald Trump was caught on camera flipping off astronaut Christina Koch. The incident caused a stir on social media, with many criticizing Trump's behavior as inappropriate.
The Video Call
The video call was made to congratulate Koch on breaking the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman. Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and his daughter Ivanka Trump, spoke to Koch and fellow astronaut Jessica Meir from the Oval Office.
The Incident
During the call, Trump asked Koch how it felt to have broken the record. Koch replied, "It's a great honor to follow in [the footsteps] of my heroes that inspired me to want to be an astronaut to begin with." In response, Trump made a gesture with his hand that appeared to be flipping her off.
Reactions
After the video call, many people took to social media to express their outrage over Trump's behavior. Some criticized him for being disrespectful to Koch, while others saw it as a reflection of his lack of professionalism and temperament.
Analysis
Trump's gesture was widely interpreted as flipping off Koch, but some have argued that it may have been a coincidence or a misinterpretation. However, given Trump's history of controversial behavior and statements, many people were quick to assume the worst.
Conclusion
The incident was just one of many controversies that surrounded Trump during his presidency. While some defended his behavior as a sign of his authenticity and willingness to speak his mind, others saw it as a reflection of his lack of respect for others and disregard for traditional norms of behavior.