Politicians are always in the headlines because of their strategies and tactics but sometimes they are also in the headlines for other things.
Well, we have seen most of the time these politicians become a part of meme culture on social media, not because of their certain agenda but because of their awkward moments in front of the public and camera.
And, if you are an active social media user, you must have seen many memes of politicians and their awkward kisses and hugs. Most of them are not deliberate, of course, but many have speculations about deliberate moves in these moments.
First Lady and Kamala Harris’ Husband’s Awkward Kiss Stirred the Internet!
There have been many moments in people’s lives that have been awkward and politicians are always going through such situations. However, some moments are caught up by the internet and it becomes quite a sensation.
This happened with First Lady Jill Biden and Douglas Emhoff, Kamala Harris’s husband. During Biden’s State of the Union address, the First Lady and Douglas Emhoff kissed each other; well, it didn’t look like the usual formal kiss but a kiss on the lips.
Vladimir Putin Kissing a Boy’s Stomach
Well, even if you adore someone a lot, especially a kid, make sure you stay within your boundaries because it is important to understand the thin line between adoring and making an inappropriate move—something similar Vladimir Putin did during a public appearance that left everyone in shock.
Putin lifted a boy’s shirt and kissed his stomach, which left everyone baffled. No one would have expected such an awkward move and people were left with questions and intentions of Putin towards the boy.
Both the Russians and international media were baffled and surprisingly, it is not a part of Russian culture and that’s why Putin’s awkward act received a lot of criticism from the world.
Al Gore’s Kiss with Tipper Gore
Showing love to your spouse can never go wrong, right? Well, actually, it might go wrong when you are in politics and in front of hundreds of cameras.
Something similar happened with Al Gore when his intention was pure and just to show his love for his wife Tipper Gore at the 2000 Democratic National Convention but things went the other way when he kissed his wife for too long in front of thousands of people and hundreds of cameras capturing the beautiful moment, which was later criticized for being cringe.
Well, people and critics found it cringe and mostly fake but Al Gore intended to show his soft and lovable side to his wife, Tipper Gore. However, it turned out that people don’t really like his “soft” side.
French President Emmanuel Macron Hugging Donald Trump
Who doesn’t like a good hug and kiss? But obviously, people like it when it is from someone close and lovable but not from an acquaintance or someone we know through work, right?
Well, it seems like Trump is also among those who do not like hugs and kisses from someone he solely knows through his work.
We are talking about French President Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump’s meetings, which turn awkward as soon as Macron hugs and kisses Trump. Macros does that every time Trump visits France, as he kisses on the cheek and shoulder pats and Trump gets quite uncomfortable with that and it’s pretty much visible.
This awkwardness has now become a meme and people talk a lot about the strange rapport between the two leaders.
Barack Obama Hugging a Nervous Hillary Clinton
You know, after every debate and contest, these political leaders make sure to end their day on a good note with a handshake.
But sometimes, if it’s too much, it can end with some silence and awkwardness and that’s what happened with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
In a fierce primary contest in 2008, Obama and Clinton tried hugging each other to make sure everything ended well but, uh oh, it didn’t go as planned because the awkwardness and the stiffness while hugging were very much visible.
Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker’s Kisses
Well, some people are too friendly, while others do not seem to be comfortable with that friendliness and that is what happened with Johnson and Juncker.
At the Brexit negotiations, the then-European Commission President Juncker greeted Boris Johnson with a warm hug and kisses, which left Johnson in an awkward position.
He looked kind of out of place and did not know how to react, which was pretty much visible on his face. This awkward moment was soon turned into a funny moment when British media decided to use it for a good laugh during the seriousness of Brexit negotiations.
Justin Trudeau and Ivanka Trump’s Uncomfortable Side-Hug
Even though Justin Trudeau gave Ivanka Trump a polite side hug at a 2017 event, it didn’t really seem genuine or warm.
They clearly looked awkward and Trudeau looked like he didn’t want to hug her and most probably wanted to avoid her, while Ivanka also had stiff body language, which reflected the same emotions as Justin’s.
Vladimir Putin Awkwardly Hugging Angela Merkel
Vladimir Putin has always been put in situations where his intentions have been unclear, which is why the situation and the moment become pretty awkward.
That same happened when he hugged Angela Merkel and he was pretty overly friendly with the hug during diplomatic talks.
Everyone knows that Angela Merkel is not really comfortable with physical touch and when Putin hugged her, it was visible that she wasn’t comfortable at all and had a stiff posture.
Mitt Romney’s Forced Hug with Paul Ryan
When you are on a campaign, you must show your compassionate side, especially with people who are running along with you.
However, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan didn’t really understand this. After announcing Paul Ryan as his running mate, Romney hugged him, which was pretty awkward for both men.
They were both uncomfortable, and their chemistry during the entire campaign was pretty much ruined.
Prince Charles and Donald Trump’s Handshake-Hug Combo
Donald Trump’s movements are unpredictable but who knew that his actions with Prince would also be unpredictable?
During their meeting in the UK, Trump and Prince Charles had a very awkward handshake hug moment, which was caught on the cameras and both looked baffled and confused on what to do next.
