WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama gave a less-than-formal salute when he stepped off Marine One during his arrival in New York City Tuesday and now he is getting some criticism for the action.
A video posted on the White House Instagram account shows the president holding a coffee cup in the hand he uses to salute a Marine standing guard.
Critics are now calling it the “latte salute.”
A Navy manual on customs says people should not salute when carrying items that could “make saluting impractical.”
While it is protocol for U.S. service members in uniform to salute the commander in chief, it’s not required for a civilian president to salute back, military experts said to ABC News.
Ronald Reagan is thought to have set precedent for presidential saluting back in 1981.
Obama isn’t the only president to offer an nontraditional salute.
Military Times points out that in 2001, then-President George W. Bush gave an awkward salute with his dog, Barney in his arms.
Watch the video:
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