Being a head of state means that you need certain skills in a wide number of domains. Particularly when it comes to cultural sensibilities, and how to act in varied circumstances. Because a head of state does not just represent themselves, and is brought to meet other heads of state to avoid diplomatic incidents. However, without doing so deliberately, some of them have inadvertently caused embarrassment to their respective countries! Here are a few social slips, faux pas and gaffs committed by our countries’ presidents, some of which will have you in stitches!
1/ President Bush vomiting on the Prime Minister of Japan
Having eaten some sushi, the American president fell forwards and vomited on the knees of the Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa who was sitting beside him. The First Lady leapt up from her chair and put a serviette to his mouth, while one of the secret service agents propped him up to stop him from falling over. The Japanese media chose not to release the images, so as to avoid further embarrassment.
2/ François Hollande failing to get his voting paper into the slot
When he went to give his vote to either Emmanuel Macron or Marine Le Pen during the second round of elections in 2017, the ex-President of France didn’t quite manage to get his vote into the ballot box. He just left it drop, not even looking where it fell. Fortunately, we’re here to remind him..
3/ Bill Clinton who caused delays in Los Angeles Airport because he was getting his hair cut in his plane
On the 18th May 1993, Los Angeles Airport suffered considerable delays, because of the fact that President Bill Clinton was having his hair cut inside his private jet. Two of the four runways were therefore closed, and several planes were forced to circle the airspace while waiting to land.
4/ George Bush unable to open a door when he is live on air
In 2005, President Bush suffered the ignominy of being stuck in front of a door he couldn’t open during a state visit to China. Trying to get rid of a journalist who was harassing him with questions, Bush quickly ended the session, heading for a door that refused to open, despite his vain efforts. We can understand his mortification.
5/ Obama failing to get the basketball into the hoop, even when he goes right up under it
It took him three goes! Frustrating, to say the least!
6/ Richard Nixon unwittingly smuggling drugs
In 1958, Richard Nixon was the Vice President of the US when he allegedly unwittingly smuggled drugs through New York Airport. He was meeting jazz musician Louis Armstrong who was waiting for him at customs, with 1.4 kg of marijuana inside his suitcase! Upon approaching the musician, Nixon picked up his suitcase and declared “Ambassadors don’t go through customs, the Vice President of the United States will be delighted to carry your bags!” before the two men went through customs.
7/ George Bush calls the Spanish Prime Minister a “goose” and then refers to him as the ‘president’
In 2001, in an interview with a Spanish TV station, the American President mispronounced the name of the Spanish Prime Minister at the time, José Maria Aznar. Bush said “Anzar” instead of “Aznar”, which is pronounced much the same as the Spanish word for “goose” (ansar). But this was far from the only faux pas he committed: President Bush followed up by addressing the Prime Minister as “President”. To top it all off, wanting to show off his linguistic prowess in Spanish, he referred to Condoleezza Rice as Senorita “Arroz” –arroz being the Spanish word for rice. Too awkward for words!
