Does anyone else here agree with me that American Presidents should not “go native” when they visit other countries? I mean, specifically, that they should not wear the local clothing, like Zero is doing in that pic? It makes me sick. I think even W did it and I couldn’t stand it then, either.
This is a separate issue from behavioral codes of conduct. There are certain rules of protocol that include showing respect for certain cultural traditions, like when it is considered inappropriate to kiss a woman or to pat Queen Elizabeth on the back and so on. But when it comes to a president bowing before any other public official, that offends our culture and is going too far.
W did not do it as a rule on foreign visits. The exception is for the APEC summits where there is a photo op for all attendees wearing the native dress of whatever country hosts it in a given year, so W did get photographed in a Chinese tunic made from some goofy-looking fabric. When the US has hosted the summit, I don’t know what we used as “traditional dress” for the event but it would be funny to see Putin in a hula skirt with flowers in his hair or a Hopi clown outfit with painted legs.