The whole POTUS saluting thing is silly and needs to stop. Before Reagan no one did it, not even Eisenhower, who had the greatest global military exposure. Regan got it started and was even told by his staff to cut it out. It has led to equally silly and artificial “disrespect” stories about just about every POTUS. We had the Clinton cupped-hand salute, the W. Bush salute while he was carrying his dog, the Obama coffee salute, Biden saluting Meloni at the G7 and now we have Trump ready to salute everyone wearing a hat.Listen to his protocol team, whose business it is to help their principals navigate these exact kinds of situations.
The POTUS should not salute. Not the Marine at the helicopter, not the AF colonels gathered at Andrews, and not when boarding a ship or walking past an honor guard. POTUS is a civilian (even if former military) and should act as such.
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