Like many Americans, President Trump on Monday gazed at the first solar eclipse in a century to cross the continental United States, coast to coast. But at one point he appeared to ignore precautions that scientists and doctors warned were necessary to protect people’s eyes during the celestial event.
Trump emerged on the Truman Balcony of the White House with first lady Melania and son Barron shortly before the eclipse reached its apex in Washington. He waved at the crowd and responded to a reporter’s question — “How’s the view?” — with a thumbs up, according to the White House press pool.
Then he tilted his head upward and pointed toward the sky, prompting a White House aide standing beneath the balcony to shout, “Don’t look,” according to the press pool. It is unclear if Trump looked directly at the sun, but photos of the moment have already become an object of derision.
According to NASA, “Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (‘totality’), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality.”The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as ‘eclipse glasses’ … or hand-held solar viewers.”