At Japan’s ceremonial inspection of guards, Donald Trump seemed to forget he was part of the ceremony altogether. The Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, stopped at the flags as planned. Trump, meanwhile, kept marching like a lost extra in his own diplomatic parade.
At Tokyo’s Guard of Honor ceremony on Monday, Oct. 28, Trump appeared to go fully autopilot, wandering off from Japanese PM Takaichi mid-inspection. Even as soldiers and aides scrambled to redirect him, he paid no heed and became a walking metaphor for disorientation. The footage shows Trump saluting a line of Japanese troops, then suddenly veering off ahead of his host.
“He’s not even looking at the troops or the dignitaries, as he just wanders around aimlessly. He’s not all there!” (via X)
His eyes were glazed, posture stiff, steps slow and uneven, almost like he wasn’t even awake. Takaichi stopped in front of the twin flags, where protocol dictated that both leaders should stand to pay respect. Trump, however, kept trudging towards nobody knows what. After a brief moment of waiting, the PM and the troops gave up and just followed him back to the podium.
It would be funny if it weren’t a U.S. president saluting a foreign army while looking like he’d lost his way to his bedroom at night. American protocol officials probably briefed him in advance on what to do by the standards. But, as one user on X noted, “it’s obvious he spaced it and couldn’t remember.” For every American watching, the moment captured how Trump is spoiling the country’s image abroad.
The MAGA grandpa looked like an aging leader unknown to decorum, confusing ceremony for spectacle. He turned basic diplomacy into unintentional comedy, all in front of a newly elected world leader. “My 11-year-old blind bulldog has more situational awareness,” one user quipped. Another wondered aloud, “Why is he saluting a foreign country’s military while wandering aimlessly?” And well, nobody knows why.
“He’s walking like a drunk Frankenstein’s Monster.” (via X)
But beyond the jokes, it’s the symbolism that sticks with every American. A president who brags about commanding “total respect” from world leaders needs to be physically guided around a formal event. The incident blurs the line between embarrassment and concern. It should remind everyone how the most powerful country in the world is being led by a clueless old man.
At this point, it’s hard to tell if Trump’s public disorientation is more alarming or how his supporters keep pretending it’s nothing concerning.
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