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Should the President salute? President Obama's 'latte salute' sparks debate on social media

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

President Obama on Tuesday giving a salute to Marine officials with a beverage in hand.

President Bush gives a salute with his dog Barney in hand in December 2006.

President Bush salutes while stepping off of Marine One in July 2008.

President Clinton saluting well-wishers at Rowes Wharf in Boston in March 1994.

President Clinton returning the salute of military honor in October 1996.

President George H. W. Bush saluting the crowd at the Republican National Convention in September 2008.

President George H.W. Bush saluting French President Jacques Chirac in June 1995.

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush wave during a election victory rally in November 2004.

President Ronald Reagan salutes while at Keflavik air base in October 1986.

President Reagan saluting members of the U.S. Marine Band in November 1986.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter salutes U.S. Navy sideboys in August 2005.

President Jimmy Carter gives a salute to a questioner at a town hall meeting in October 1980.

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Should the President salute? President Obama's 'latte salute' sparks debate on social mediaPresident Obama on Tuesday giving a salute to Marine officials with a beverage in hand.

White House / Instagram

President Obama received criticism on Tuesday after saluting military officials with a beverage in his hand.

The President landed in New York on Tuesday to speak about climate change at the United Nations General Assembly. The following video was captured by the White House's Instagram feed of President Obama dismounting Marine One.

The video quickly became buzzworthy, with the hashtag #LatteSalute trending on Twitter. Many criticized President Obama for the beverage salute stating that it was disrespectful to the Marines, while others noted that the President isn't required to salute.

roughliterature / PatriotMom776 / SecureAmerica / Twitter

jazzmessenger / HelmOfAwe / GeekyGeekyWays / Twitter

President Obama isn't the first Commander-in-Chief to be criticized over their saluting style. President George W. Bush received similar negative remarks after saluting military officials with his dog Barney in hand.

President Bush gives a salute with his dog Barney in hand in December 2006.
Duane A. Laverty / AP

Photo Credit: Duane A. Laverty / AP

But the criticism received by President Obama has prompted a discussion on whether presidents should salute military officials at all. President Ronald Reagan was the first to actually start retuning the salute to military officials in 1981. Originally military officials warned President Reagan that returning a salute was against protocol. An understanding was reached between Reagan and Marine Corps commandant Gen. Robert Barrow that the President is entitled, but not required, to salute Marine officials.

Check out a gallery above to see former U.S. Presidents giving their salutes to military officials and to the public. Do you think President Obama's salute was disrespectful, or just misunderstood?