Why is this man smiling?

[Alan Goldhammer]

This image was Tweeted the other day by First Lady Melania Trump.  Already several commenters have noted the inappropriate nature of the picture, HERE AND HERE.  One would think that this moment, holding an infant who has just been orphaned in a horrendous act of domestic terrorism (called out by law enforcement officials so don't pass judgment on this post for calling it that), the response would be more sober.

Of course we know that this is too much to ask for.

[RSL]

What? Golly, Graeme Wood of the Atlantic and Maureen Dowd are complaining? Well, that must be right, then. After all, these are unbiased commentators. Right? What incredible BS! Come on, Alan! Get serious.

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

What? Golly, Graeme Wood of the Atlantic and Maureen Dowd are complaining? Well, that must be right, then. After all, these are unbiased commentators. Right? What incredible BS! Come on, Alan! Get serious.

Russ,

Care to answer the question then; Why is this man smiling? Is it maybe because of the size of the crowd?

[RSL]

Hi Bart, I haven't the foggiest idea why they're all smiling, and neither does Graeme Wood or Maureen Dowd. It's just the usual bullshit political insinuation. It's all these people have, so they do it over and over and over.

[kers]

Hi Bart, I haven't the foggiest idea why they're all smiling, and neither does Graeme Wood or Maureen Dowd. It's just the usual bullshit political insinuation. It's all these people have, so they do it over and over and over.

I agree , it could have been just a unfortunate moment that was picked out and gave a wrong impression of the situation, however, the video in which is talking about crowd sizes etc is not in his favour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJhrQ9ghwo8

[LesPalenik]

He could be smiling because he likes one of the female photographers and her equipment.

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

The man has no empathy:
https://youtu.be/6MJUZZgvAUY?t=193

[RSL]

Unfortunately, as usual, Alan posted this to get an argument going. I'm outta here. You guys go ahead and argue.

[JoeKitchen]

This is seriously one of the most absurd articles I have seen in a long time.  Why is he smiling?  Well, perhaps because he was asked to have his picture taken and we, as a society, have been conditioned to smile when this happens to the point that we dont think about it most of the time.  I realize professional politicians are always thinking about the best look, reaction, accent and slang to use, but I think we can all agree by now, that Trump is not a regular politician. 

This is article is just as crazy as when Obama was criticized for accepting "Las Venas Abiertas de America Latina" from Chavez when he visited Venezuela, as if Obama foresaw it happening, knew what the book (in Spanish) was about and/or could actually refuse the gift during the press conference.  Now this is not to say the criticism of Obama visiting with Chavez was not warranted, but the whole book thing was crazy, just like this is crazy. 

[Alan Goldhammer]

This is seriously one of the most absurd articles I have seen in a long time.  Why is he smiling?  Well, perhaps because he was asked to have his picture taken and we, as a society, have been conditioned to smile when this happens to the point that we dont think about it most of the time.  I realize professional politicians are always thinking about the best look, reaction, accent and slang to use, but I think we can all agree by now, that Trump is not a regular politician. 

this was an event that required a display of empathy and not a photo opportunity.  If you were in the President's place would you want a picture taken?  If so, do you think the President and his wife's response at the time the picture was taken was appropriate?  May the First Lady should have worn her "I don't care, Do You?" jacket as that is how they both come across. 

[Ivo_B]

Hi Bart, I haven't the foggiest idea why they're all smiling, and neither does Graeme Wood or Maureen Dowd. It's just the usual bullshit political insinuation. It's all these people have, so they do it over and over and over.

I’m not really interested in US politics, but I react because you are close to a Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.

Don’t do this Russ, you can reply to the question, can’t you?

Cheers Ivo.

[Ivo_B]

this was an event that required a display of empathy and not a photo opportunity.  If you were in the President's place would you want a picture taken?  If so, do you think the President and his wife's response at the time the picture was taken was appropriate?  May the First Lady should have worn her "I don't care, Do You?" jacket as that is how they both come across.

The mechanic behind this disgusting ‘act the presence’ is not something typical for the actual POTUS and his wife. It’s a disgusting opportunistic behavior of politicians, point.
Only, A more professional politician makes sure he is not caught in a unguarded moment, but it comes from the same disgusting intentions.

[amolitor]

Trump's handlers are terrible.

[James Clark]

Trump's handlers are terrible.

Look what they have to work with.  You don't think they can actually control him, do you?

[faberryman]

Look what they have to work with.  You don't think they can actually control him, do you?

My understanding is that of the 11 victims in the hospital, 3 were unable to see him because of their injuries, and 8 refused to see him, so they had to bring in victims that had already been discharged to meet with him. I can understand how the natural reaction may be to smile when a photograph is taken, but to give the thumbs up when the infant had been orphaned? How do you explain that? But I am sure someone will try.

[JoeKitchen]

Well, to be honest, I did not notice the thumbs up until just now, due to the title and where my attention was directed, which does not make any sense. 

If it was just a smile, I would still consider this an anticipated left leaning media piece.  A thumbs up, given the situation, though is kind of weird and odd. 

[Robert Roaldi]

I find it disturbing that they should want to photograph the orphan baby in any context.

[Robert Roaldi]

Just one more comment on the reactions. It seems to me that some people react way too quickly to any criticism of Trump, screaming "loonie left-leaning media" or some variation. How is that any different than the race-baiting that the "left" is repeatedly accused of?

Regardless of idealogical beliefs, Trump's personal behaviour varies from unusual to repulsive, how is anyone surprised that what he does is criticized by the media? Just sayin'.

[LesPalenik]

Smiling Trump makes definitely a more appealing picture than an angry Trump. The smile makes him more attractive to the voters. And it can even lengthen his life.

Scientists and spiritual teachers alike agree that the simple act of smiling can transform you and the world around you.

A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia reported that seeing an attractive, smiling face activates your orbitofrontal cortex, the region in your brain that process sensory rewards. This suggests that when you view a person smiling, you actually feel rewarded.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/there-s-magic-in-your-smile

[Ray]

Why?

Always look on the bright side. The baby is just a couple of months old. It has no understanding of recent events, has no concept of father and mother, or of birth and death, and will never have any personal memory of this tragic shooting. Most people can't recall anything about their lives that occurred before the age of 3.

However, I suspect this photo of the child being held in the arms of the wife of the POTUS will become an iconic image in the home as the child gradually grows and learns, and the positive attitude of the President shown in the image, smiling with thumbs up, might encourage the child to work hard and achieve something worthwhile in life.

The focus of the image is on the survival of the child, not the death of its parents. If Trump and Melania were standing next to a coffin containing the child's parents, then smiling with thumbs up would of course be very inappropriate. Hope you Trump-bashers can see the difference.