President Donald Trump‘s try and channel his interior monarch hit a bitter notice when he welcomed the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon to the Oval Workplace, leaving navy custom fans shaking their heads sooner than a drill sergeant dismissing recruits.
Some individuals even claimed Trump was making an attempt to imitate King Charles, hoping to appear royal however falling flat.
The Wednesday, Sept. 24, ceremony on the White Home South Garden was meant to be a easy act of gratitude—however as a substitute, it veered into awkward territory.
The elite Marines delivered their signature silent efficiency for Cupboard members and senior workers. Their flawless execution deserved nothing lower than equally polished recognition from the commander in chief.
Nonetheless, when Trump invited the personnel into his newly redecorated Oval Workplace to current every Marine with a presidential problem coin, social media observers rapidly noticed a number of breaches of navy etiquette.
“If these are problem cash, he’s supposed to face and shake it into their arms after a salute,” one critic identified on X, highlighting the president’s informal method to a deeply significant custom.
Trump’s problem coin represents way over a easy token of appreciation.
If these are problem cash, he is supposed to face and shake it into their arms after a salute. 🤦♂️
— Ron Burke (@MistaB10) September 25, 2025
In response to American navy custom, these cash symbolize recognition, camaraderie, and belonging inside a corporation. The correct presentation includes particular protocols which have been refined over a long time of navy tradition. Problem cash needs to be handed throughout a agency handshake, with the coin discreetly positioned within the recipient’s palm as a private switch of honor and recognition.
Trump’s supply didn’t meet these established requirements.
Reasonably than standing to correctly acknowledge every Marine with the standard handshake presentation, he appeared handy out the cash extra casually whereas sitting.
Army protocol dictates that such shows ought to contain the giver standing, providing a salute when acceptable, and making certain the coin is transferred by way of a significant handshake that symbolizes the direct passage of respect from chief to service member.
X customers have been fast to dissect each element of the change.
“That’s not the way you give a coin….coin in palm then shake the hand, give the coin within the hand shake. Not less than do it proper when you’re going to provide a coin,” one other observer famous.
The criticism prolonged past simply the coin ceremony itself, with some individuals questioning the CEO of Trump Tower’s demeanor in the course of the encounter and what it actually meant. One individual invoked Trump’s current state go to with King Charles III in notably unflattering comparability with the president.
Throughout September’s ceremonial welcome at Windsor Fort, King Charles demonstrated impeccable navy protocol whereas greeting troopers alongside Trump, in accordance to the BBC.
The British monarch’s interplay with the respect guard showcased centuries of refined royal custom, that includes 1,300 navy personnel and 120 horses within the largest guard of honor ever assembled for a state go to to the U.Ok.
In contrast to Trump’s informal Oval Workplace presentation, King Charles carried out the navy inspection with correct formality and respect.
🇺🇸🇬🇧 TRUMP & KING CHARLES REVIEW THE GUARD
In Windsor’s grey drizzle, Trump and King Charles III strode the fortress’s quadrangle in the present day, inspecting rows of gleaming honor guards.
Queen Camilla and First Woman Melania Trump watched beneath a cover as 1,300 troops stood at… https://t.co/QbhhwnkF77 pic.twitter.com/OPGpndaJp4
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 17, 2025
The King even gestured for Trump to step forward in the course of the guard inspection, stopping any potential protocol violations which may have echoed the president’s 2018 missteps.
That earlier go to with Queen Elizabeth II had already established Trump’s sophisticated relationship with royal protocol, Time journal stories. Throughout that ceremonial inspection at Windsor Fort, Trump was noticed strolling forward of the Queen, violating the customary observe of permitting the monarch to steer.
The Queen’s refined gesture directing him to step again turned a broadly mentioned second that highlighted the significance of understanding and respecting established traditions.
THE TRINITY HAS SHIFTED: A GLOBAL RESET IN SLOW MOTION
2016: Donald J. Trump is elected.
2017: Trump meets Pope Francis—religion and energy converge.
2018: Trump walks forward of Queen Elizabeth—a refined rupture in protocol, a foreshadowing.
2020: Brexit breaks the previous order.… pic.twitter.com/Gns9YhllfP
— Alma Gentil (@Chinoy200096633) July 18, 2025
The distinction between these two British experiences and the current home one with the Marines underscores the importance of protocol in navy and ceremonial settings.
“Too, previous, fats, and lazy to STAND UP and shake their arms?!” one pissed off social media person wrote, capturing the sentiment of many who felt the Marines deserved higher recognition.
One other commenter drew a direct comparability to the royal go to: “He’s making an attempt to copy his GB go to with King Charles, KC doesn’t want to ask his parade troopers into the fortress as He is aware of he’s King and doesn’t want to indicate off or be boasterlisious.”
Even the Oval Workplace’s new dramatic gilded decor turned fodder for criticism, with one person noting, “I can’t get previous the gold circus tent drapes,” suggesting even the president’s gaudy aesthetic decisions overshadowed the ceremony’s supposed function.
Whereas Trump’s intention to honor the Marines was purported to be proof that he rocks together with his nation’s navy, the execution reminded everybody that respect for custom requires greater than good intentions.