Finland president appears to swat away Trump's hand as he touches his thigh, triggering a meme fest
President Donald Trump sat with the Finland President Sauli Niinistö in the Oval Office on Wednesday to take questions from the media, however, there was a strange moment during their discussion that quickly became viral on social media.
Although Trump took questions from the press ranging from his impeachment inquiry to House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, it was the Finland President's body language during the conference that caught the media's attention the most.
In one of the clips doing rounds on social media, as Trump attempts to pat his counterpart on his thigh while making a remark, Niinistö appears to swat his hand away. Twitter users have taken the gesture as the Finland President's way of suggesting that he does not want to be touched by Trump.
The reaction from the Findland president came just after a reporter asked what the US could learn from Finland considering the latter has been ranked the happiest country in the world for two years in a row by the World Happiness Report. Trump replied to the question by saying: "Finland is a happy country" and touched Niinistö’s leg, which prompted the Finland leader to make the swatting gesture as the US president withdrew his hand.
Trump, appearing unfazed by what had occurred, continued to talk about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff in the wake of the impeachment inquiry launched against him over a controversial call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Shortly after the video of the conference was aired, it did not take much time for Twitter users to come up with memes and comments mocking Trump.
One Twitter user wrote: "Never a student of history, Trump is unaware that you never invade Finland." A second user wrote: "I guess we can add the President of Finland to the list of people Trump has touched without consent."
While another said: "Call me old-fashioned but unless you’re hangin’ out with your buddies, that is SOOO inappropriate to reach out and slap the knee of another leader. Trump has zero class."