White House Denies Prez Bowed to Saudi King

President accused of royal breach of protocol at G20 summit
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 9, 2009 4:37 AM CDT

The White House denies President Obama broke centuries of protocol by bowing to a foreign monarch at the G20 talks, Politico reports. A video from the summit showing the president dipping as he greeted Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has infuriated right-wingers who believe the movement was a bow. The deep dip won praise for the president in parts of the Arab world.

"It wasn't a bow," said a White House aide. "He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah." (More King Abdullah stories.)

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