Twitter Goes Wild Over Rubio's 'Failed Hug'

Sometimes all you can do is surrender to Twitter. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio may have started out his day Tuesday thinking about deep issues. But when Twitter went wild over an awkward photo of him leaning in for a hug with Ivanka Trump at a Capitol Hill meeting, Rubio was smart enough to play along. The photo taken by an AP congressional reporter appears to show Trump declining to hug Rubio back as the two greet one another just outside the Capitol. Twitter users dissected the seemingly awkward moment, comparing Rubio to The Simpsons' Ralph Wiggum when he doesn't get a Valentine's Day card, and to Dr. Evil from Austin Powers asking his son for a hug.

Rubio responded in a series of joking tweets late Tuesday, announcing that he would be investigating what he termed the "alleged failed hug." "We have our own unclassified photographic evidence that will shed greater details on this incident," the Republican senator said. Rubio then posted a blurry photo, taken at a different moment, showing Trump's hand on Rubio's shoulder as he smiles. "New photo emerges providing more insight into alleged failed hug. (Faces blurred for security purposes)," was the accompanying caption. Trump herself joined in Tuesday evening, tweeting: "Fake news! Marco is an excellent hugger." The AP says it "stands by its photo." (More Marco Rubio stories.)