In a rather astounding move, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera sat at US President Barack Obama’s desk in the Oval Office in Washington, DC, Huffington Post reported on Friday.
“I’m going to sit at the President of the United States’ desk,” said Piñera as he sat down at the “Resolute Desk”, breaking the White House’s political protocols.
Piñera, who met Obama during his first official visit to the United States, said in an apparent justification behind his action that his daughter was born in the United States.
Obama appeared rather surprised at Piñera’s action, seemingly a spontaneous one, which has become the highlight of his visit.
Piñera’s sitting at the desk was received with a light heart as it was followed with reactions of surprise and laughter. Obama said in a response to a witness that Piñera was the only non-US president to have sat behind the US President’s desk.
“He’s the only one,” said Obama who did not seem disappointed but rather surprised at the act.
President Obama on Tuesday had welcomes Piñera to the White House on Tuesday, where the former praised the latter on Chile’s growing economy and democratic advancement.
The two leaders discussed issues regarding bilateral ties between their countries in the hour-long meeting. Both said they were willing to work towards a comprehensive trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region which would include the two countries, Huffington Post reported.
