What’s the deal with Obama and Castro’s awkward hand embrace?
[Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama hold a joint news conference at the Palace of the Revolution, Monday, March 21, 2016, in Havana, Cuba. AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa]
It’s been 88 years since a meeting between the leaders of Cuba and the U.S., so it’s only natural that things got a little awkward.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro are working on patching up relations between the two nations during an historic visit by the American leader.
Raúl Castro ended his press conference with @POTUS with some interesting arm interaction pic.twitter.com/CVEXYJvjL7
— POLITICO (@politico)
At the end of a news conference Monday, where Castro tussled with reporters over political prisoners, a handshake – or should we say embrace – between the two ends in a bizarre flop.
In the clip, the U.S. president’s left arm goes limp as Castro lifts it up. We aren’t really sure what to make of the moment between the two leaders but the Internet sure had a lot to say.
Maybe Obama was just sitting on his arm for a while and it was asleep. https://t.co/NTkn5yKUS6
— Scott Stinson (@scott_stinson)
When a boy tries to hold ur hand during church https://t.co/uzvKBilMFu
— refriend beans (@pharmasean)
Raul Castro is like your Grandpa who wants to go to sleep but you keep asking so many goddamned questions. He is not amused
😂😂😂#CubaVisit— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka)
That awkward moment when Obama wanted to put his arm around Raul and he was like, “Hayi, wait wena man!“ pic.twitter.com/nQgMU3s9ze
— #ConceptSixty5 (@Sentletse)
Did Obama move in for the hug/handshake & was rebuffed by Raul Castro, who then hoists Obama’s hand in the air? Wow! https://t.co/xA4DAU50To
— Miki Brown (@mikivirtuous)
