Five Politicians Whose Foreign Trips Didn’t Go So Well
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Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen(WASHINGTON) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is back on U.S. soil after a trip to the United Kingdom this week — but his journey across the pond was not entirely smooth.
During his visit, Christie became embroiled in a debate back at home, telling reporters that parents should have “a measure of choice” on whether to vaccinate their children.
In the middle of one of the worst American measles outbreaks in recent history, Christie’s office later clarified in an official statement: “The Governor believes vaccines are an important public health protection and with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated.”
On his final day in London, The New York Times published an article describing the governor’s taste for luxury, raising a variety of questions that the governor apparently was not in the mood to answer.
Christie declined to take press questions before he winged his way back to New Jersey. But Christie is hardly alone when it comes to politicians whose trips overseas have turned rocky.
Here are five others:
1. Bobby Jindal: ‘No-Go Zones’
On a 10-day trip to London in January, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal insisted that non-Muslim citizens in the U.K. are uncomfortable in certain Muslim-dominated areas, which he dubbed unofficial “no-go zones.”
Though Prime Minister David Cameron said he “nearly choked on my porridge” after hearing similar comments on Fox News, Jindal stood by his original statement.
2. Michelle Obama: Cozying Up to the Queen
In a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2012, Michelle Obama caused quite a stir across the pond after she was seen posing with Queen Elizabeth with their arms on her back, a typical pose for photos but seen as very casual for an interaction with the Queen. It was believed to be the first time the Queen initiated a hug in public, according to New York Magazine. It is seen as protocol that the Queen must initiate contact before guests should touch her.
3. Mitt Romney: ‘Tour de Gaffe’
Mitt Romney’s trip to Europe and Israel in 2012 may be remembered most for one line shouted by a member of the press corps to Romney: “What about your gaffes?!”
At a fundraiser, the then Republican presidential candidate commented that Israel was more economically successful than its neighbors because of the country’s unique culture. Palestinian leaders called the statement racist, saying Palestine cannot reach its economic potential “because there is an Israeli occupation.”
Earlier in the trip, Romney offended the Brits by calling London’s security preparation for the 2012 Olympics “disconcerting.”
Romney later said that the comments were not meant as an insult, but only after British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a blunt statement.
Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere,” Cameron said, contrasting London with Salt Lake City, where Romney once led the Olympic organizing committee.
4. George H.W. Bush’s Stomach Problems
In an unfortunate accident, President George H. W. Bush fell violently ill while dining with the Japanese Prime Minister during a 1992 visit to Tokyo.
Suffering from a bad case of intestinal flu, Bush vomited on his host and then collapsed unconscious in his seat.
According to the New York Times, the president acknowledged he was embarrassed.
5. Hillary Clinton: American Democracy
On her first trip to Europe as Secretary of State in 2009, Hillary Clinton caused a stir at a town hall meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels.
“I feel the same way about our own democracy, which has been around a lot longer than European democracy,” Clinton said.
Clinton’s suggestion that American democracy predates European democracy did not sit well with the audience.
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