Something weird happened at the end of President Obama’s historic press conference with Cuban President Raul Castro.
The leaders had just made history with a press conference that touched on Guantanamo Bay and political prisoners.
As the two leaders went in for a handshake, the Cuban leader grabbed the president by the arm and hoisted it up, boxing referee style.
But the president didn’t fully cooperate and flopped his wrist.
Speculation varied on social media about cause for the president’s sudden limpness, but there’s one thing people seem to agree on: It was extremely awkward.
Castro grabs Obama's limp wrist, hoists his hand into the air like the winner of a prize fight. Most awkward POTUS scene I can ever recall.
— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) March 21, 2016
Raul Castro lifting Obama’s arm up, limply, was really awkward
— Sam Stein (@samstein) March 21, 2016
President Castro: Look at us. We're buddies!
President Obama: No, Bro. No.#ObamaenCuba #CubaVisit pic.twitter.com/cMQZGt0PcK
— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) March 21, 2016
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Let's have a closer look at Obama's limp-ass wrist pic.twitter.com/EzmemwyAnH
— Brian Ries (@moneyries) March 21, 2016
Painful to watch. What was that, scarecrow arm? Obama didn't want his arm lifted, so he went limp wrist. https://t.co/4JFVZmcaFS
— David Garcia (@DavidArtGar) March 21, 2016
Obama's gone for the old 'fake arm' trick to fool Castro. https://t.co/NZnWwQhRfv
— SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) March 21, 2016
Source: Foxnews
What other reaction could he have made…what about the obvious, if he’d clenched his fist as one normally does in that position? Today’s story would be all about how the US “owned” Cuba at the press conference with Obama posturing like a winning prize fighter. Looks to me like Castro wanted to make some kind of “friendly” gesture and just didn’t think; it through on the spot, and Obama did all he could do in a situation that everyone’s going to tear to bits…whatever happened…Awkward, sure , but then who hasn’t been?