Kamala Harris has been accused of “insulting” and “embarrassing” behaviour after she was caught on camera wiping her palm on her jacket shortly after shaking hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during their meeting in Washington on Friday.
Shocked viewers zoomed in on the moment and shared it online, causing an avalanche of comments from astonished users, many of whom found the move – accidental or not – deeply disrespectful to the South Korean politician.
Harris revealed on Twitter that during their bilateral summit, the two discussed global health, North Korea, and migration from the Northern Triangle, a term which refers to three Central American countries – Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
“How can you do that knowing cameras are recording your every move?” one person shockingly asked.
“Kamala Harris does a hand wipe after shaking hands with SK President Moon! Wow! That’s so embarrassing!” another one raged.
Some users pointed out that if a GOP member did something similar, they would have been deemed “racist” straight away.
But others suggested that the vice president may have simply fallen victim to the germophobia that has gripped the world during the COVID pandemic.
Harris has remained silent on the situation so far.