Twitter can't get enough of Trump and Tillerson's awkward moves in traditional Saudi sword dance
'The man has no rhythm,' one Twitter user wrote.
US President Donald Trump and other male members of his administration took part in a traditional sword dance during their visit to Saudi Arabia over the weekend. The ceremonial dance was a part of the extravagant welcome for Trump, his family and senior US officials during his first foreign trip as president.
The ceremonial dance, known as the Ardah, involves dance, drumming and chanting poetry with two lines of men standing shoulder to shoulder, dancing while carrying light swords.
The dance signifies the start and end of significant occasions such as religious holidays, weddings, births or other national or local events.
Trump along with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross were spotted smiling, wielding swords and bobbing awkwardly as they joined in the dance outside the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.
Twitter, expectedly, wasted no time in poking fun at the president and his fellow officials' dance skills.
While some social media users compared Trump's dance skills to an awkward uncle dancing uncomfortably at a wedding, others pointed out the timing of the dance after signing a $110bn defense deal with Saudi Arabia.
Many even compared his moves to that of his predecessors, former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
"For $100bn, Trump will perform a traditional folk dance. For $200bn he'll put on a tutu and perform Swan Lake", Twitter satirist and social commentator Karl Sharro wrote.
"Among his many character flaws, the man has no rhythm," one Twitter user wrote. Another tweeted: "Will he twerk for a trillion?"
Team Trump at a SAUDI DANCE PARTY with singing, drums.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 20, 2017
Bannon and Priebus in middle of it. Wilbur Ross with sword.
REALLY SOMETHING. pic.twitter.com/Q4Y5ywPExa
tfw u called for a "total and complete shutdown of muslims entering the united states" pic.twitter.com/Opd47q7jWV
— David Mack (@davidmackau) May 20, 2017
@ishoaibmansoor @AJEnglish Well he sure can't dance!
— OGvoyous (@ogvoyous) May 21, 2017
@AJEnglish @xdelmar59 pic.twitter.com/C7topXl15P
— my💔hurts (@veganagainz) May 21, 2017
@AJEnglish President Obama puts you to shame, donnie deplorable! President Obama can actually dance AND lead. @AlJazeera
— Cyclist Bob (@CyclistBob) May 21, 2017
Trump dancing the "Ardha," traditional dance of peace after war. Saudis chanting: "We thank god things came that we had wished for." https://t.co/aMCqyacfVo
— devindwyer (@devindwyer) May 20, 2017
Saudis: "Oi come and join in with our dance fam"
— ðŸ”Roadman Dan 🟠(@roadmancode) May 21, 2017
Trump: "No im okay thanks"
Saudis: "You want the money or not G?"
Trump: pic.twitter.com/2F8d99hEAv
I'm thinking that's the only dance moves Trump's got. Here he is dancing in church. pic.twitter.com/tLKkf6uooN
— RogelioGarcia Lawyer (@LawyerRogelio) May 20, 2017
@CBSNews What does it say when you get a better reception in Saudi Arabia than you did at your own inaugural celebration?
— Waleed (@wal_e_ed) May 20, 2017
@CNNPolitics Hey Trumpians #MAGA so much winning. First a curtesy now a dance, how does it feel to support a man whose ideals are as thin as his hair
— Dannib (@DanielleBruget) May 20, 2017
@CNNPolitics Which does he have less of? 1) Rhythm 2) Sense 3) Vocabulary or 4) Intelligence? What a disgrace!
— Donald Trump's Comb (@DonTrumpsComb) May 20, 2017
@BBCWorld My god they trusted him with a sword??!!!
— Alexis Chase-McCarth (@MccarthChase) May 21, 2017
@BBCWorld This situation would not finish well in game Of Thrones.
— Gilberto Filho (@Betinhogiba) May 21, 2017
@AP He must truly believe he's a king now. Horrifying
— Patty J. Ayers (@PattyInColorado) May 20, 2017
@thehill If Obama had done that, Fox News would have already spun a conspiracy.
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) May 20, 2017
@thehill Is he even allowed to be around sharp objects ?
— Elroy Jetson 🚀 (@lexluther24) May 20, 2017
@pbump pic.twitter.com/xtiewdoYg4
— Rex Miller (@JahNestaWailer) May 20, 2017
@LawyerRogelio He looks like a drunk uncle embarrassing you at your wedding.
— 💋 (@_tonyaspencer) May 20, 2017
@LawyerRogelio Wish I could have that 30 seconds back. I cannot unsee this now.
— Kathi Hoffmeister (@KathiHoff61) May 20, 2017
When your half drunk uncle tries to do the Cupid Shuffle... https://t.co/0YdY1Ognc1
— MarysGotClass (@MarysGotClass) May 21, 2017
please enjoy this footage of the secretaries of commerce and state dancing awkwardly while holding swords pic.twitter.com/KrkoGRS8fW
— David Mack (@davidmackau) May 20, 2017
@davidmackau I keep rubbing my eyes and trying to figure out what planet I'm on
— Ann Brenoff (@AnnBrenoff) May 21, 2017
@davidmackau @ColinKahl Priebus and Bannon look like they are desperately hoping they are not forced to dance
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) May 20, 2017
@davidmackau They're doing the #MAGArena!
— Erik Lehtis (@erik_lehtis) May 20, 2017
The look on Trump's face while handling this sword---> pic.twitter.com/yBAWrTGA9I
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) May 20, 2017
@davidmackau All they had to do was rock back and forth and they can't even do that pic.twitter.com/voOowzgtPU
— brii (@SauceyTacos) May 20, 2017
@ABC Never thought I'd say this in a million years, but George Bush is a much better dancer. #ThatOnlyHurtALittle pic.twitter.com/saFWG1Go7d
— GodlessAbomination (@Depcrestwood) May 20, 2017
It was not my first #SwordDance pic.twitter.com/dNzbmNbcKN
— Rebecca (@beccaboo71) May 21, 2017
If #Trump plans an official visit to Russia, he better start rehearsing Russian traditional male dance) #SwordDance pic.twitter.com/VDlZ1kEU1E
— Marina Buinovskaya (@MBuinovskaya_RT) May 21, 2017
The advance work on this trip is hilarious:
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) May 21, 2017
Sword dance, all-male Toby Keith concert, secret Tillerson press conference, magic globe, ...
@MattZeitlin @davidmackau I like Rex Tillerson and Ima let him finish but Prince Charles did the best Saudi sword dance of ALL TIME pic.twitter.com/hA4QGG0VT4
— Tom Gara (@tomgara) May 20, 2017
Donald Trump Sword dance - not to be viewed by the faint of heart. pic.twitter.com/Wi3tmgXBy8
— Carla Pace (@carlapaceNY) May 20, 2017
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