Political Tribune

Donald Trump, Opinion, Politics, Social Media

Trump Caught On Camera Apparently Waving, Saluting And Talking To Nobody In Bizarre Viral Video

This gets stranger by the second

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588 points

On Monday afternoon, cameras captured Donald Trump making his way across the White House’s new helicopter pad toward Marine One, where he stopped, waved, saluted and bowed in the direction of what looked, once the camera pulled back, like an empty stretch of pavement.

The video, shot as Trump left for a Kansas rally supporting Sen. Roger Marshall, made the rounds on X, where one caption read, “LOL – Trump stops mid helipad to wave and salute nobody.”

The New Republic reports that from another angle Trump can be seen patting his right leg as he approaches the helicopter, while his aides come from a different direction. The wave-and-salute lasted about 30 seconds.

The internet was quick to weigh in.

The clip leaves some details unclear. It does not show who, if anyone, was standing outside the frame, and presidents routinely return salutes from military personnel near presidential aircraft. A still from the recording shows a uniformed service member near the helicopter’s open doorway.

AOL, citing NTD, reported that Trump was waving to support staff and technical crews who helped prepare for his departure. The clip’s original poster, however, claimed, “The camera zoomed out and showed that nobody was standing there.”

The helipad itself was Trump’s project. He unveiled the granite landing pad in August, telling reporters, “One thing I know how to do is build!” He argued that newer Marine One helicopters could otherwise burn or damage the South Lawn grass.

When the plan was first reported in May, Atlanta Black Star noted that some people speculated the pad could prevent cameras from recording Trump’s walk to the helicopter. White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the work, saying Trump “has continued to make improvements at the White House and all around D.C.”

Featured image via X screengrab 

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Terry Lawson

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Terry is an editor and political writer based in Alabama. Over the last five years, he’s worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for a range of companies, helping shape voices and tell stories that connect. Now at Political Tribune, he writes sharp political pieces and edits with a close eye on clarity and tone. Terry’s work is driven by strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a clear sense of purpose. He’s skilled in writing, editing, and project management — and always focused on getting the message right. You can find him on X at https://x.com/TerryNotTrump.

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