President Barack Obama (AP)
A video of what is being called the "latte salute" was uploaded to the White House’s official Instagram account.
The video’s caption read: “President Obama just landed in New York for #UNGA2014. Watch him speak at 12:50pm ET on his plan to #ActOnClimate.”
The First Lady can be seen exiting the helicopter behind him.
The Marine Corps manual used at Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA describes the salute as “the most important of all military courtesies.”
The manual continues that saluting is not always appropriate. “In general, do not salute when… carrying articles with both hands or being otherwise so occupied as to make saluting impractical.”
Commentators on the White House's Instagram account were quick to note the president’s lack of etiquette.
“The President of the United States doesn’t know how to freaking salute. Ponder that,” one said.
“Saluting with a coffee cup. How disgraceful,” another added.
“Our soldiers in combat have little sleep and still show proper military etiquette and respect. Awake all night is no excuse for blatant disrespect of customs and the men he half heartedly saluted,” a third Instagram user wrote.
“Why would they choose to post this embarrassing clip??" another commentator wondered. "Optics!”
The official White House Instagram profile boasts nearly half a million followers.
