Why I Bowed to the Saudi King

There is a small controversy brewing regarding some videos posted on You Tube. I want to set the story straight. My White House PR guys, in their scramble for some kind of official explanation, came up with "It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah". Uh.. Good one guys, but the American people are definitely too smart for that explanation.

Trust me when I say this is not a big deal. It's actually a little embarrassing. On April 1st, the G-20 gathered for an official photo with Queen Elizabeth II. Did you get that date? April 1st! I love April Fools Day; always have. I know I have the reputation for being pretty straight-laced and boring, but I can pull a prank with the best of them.

So, when I entered the room and spotted King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, I couldn't resist. I approached him, bowed deeply, then said "April Fools!". If you look closely in the video above, you can see his amused reaction. I admit, I was still flying a little high from my interaction with the Queen the day before.

I figured this was just a quiet joke between the King and me, so I made no mention of it to my staff members. Apparently, they were caught off guard and came up with the "King Abdullah's a short guy" excuse. As I said before, mistakes will be made. It's time to move on.