|
The
day after returning from a 12-day journey to Asia, Trump
delivered a more than 20-minute live address to tout his
accomplishments on the trip.
Dry mouth got in the way.
Partway through his remarks, the president, who was speaking
loudly to the assembled press, paused as cameras rolled to have
a drink. Foiled at first when he could not locate any water on
his podium, reporters pointed out there was a bottle on a table
to his right. He reached for the bottle of water and sipped.
Trump's drink of water lit up social media, evoking comparisons
with a televised address given by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio in
2013 during which he grabbed awkwardly for a water bottle.
Trump mocked Rubio during a campaign event last year for his
water drinking on live television, calling him a "total choke
artist."
Rubio, who ran against Trump for the 2016 Republican
presidential nomination, had some tongue-in-cheek advice for the
president in return.
"Similar, but needs work on his form," Rubio wrote on Twitter on
Wednesday. "Has to be done in one single motion & eyes should
never leave the camera. But not bad for his 1st time."
Others on social media noted the irony of Trump's choice of an
imported refreshment - Fiji Water - during a speech in which one
of the main themes was a pledge to reduce U.S. trade deficits
with foreign nations.
Trump took another sip from the water bottle before ending his
speech. He left, slightly more hydrated, without taking
questions from reporters.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on the social media reaction to his water drinking.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Peter Cooney)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
|
