Fact Check: Did Donald Trump Neglect to Salute Marines Outside Marine One?
Claim: A circulating video authentically shows U.S. President Donald Trump failing to salute two Marines upon disembarking Marine One on October 20.
Rating: True
Context: While no laws or official regulations require U.S. presidents to salute members of the armed forces, doing so has become a standard modern courtesy. President Ronald Reagan is widely credited with establishing this tradition, a protocol that Donald Trump generally follows.
The Viral Video
In October, social media users shared a video capturing President Donald Trump stepping off Marine One—the official call sign used when the president travels via the presidential helicopter fleet—without saluting the two Marines standing at attention nearby.
The footage quickly spread across platforms like Bluesky, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, with critics pointing out the omission as he headed toward Air Force One for a trip to a North Carolina rally.
An examination of the footage confirmed it was authentic, showing Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The clip contained no evidence of digital tampering or artificial intelligence generation.
Reviewing the Footage
Extended video footage and accompanying photo series from the event confirmed that Trump did not salute the Marines stationed near the helicopter upon landing.
However, after walking further across the tarmac toward Air Force One, Trump did engage in a brief, friendly exchange with another service member, whom he saluted. He also offered salutes to other airmen and personnel before boarding the aircraft.
Other photographic evidence shows that Trump did salute a Marine earlier that same day when departing the White House, as well as a different Marine upon returning later that evening.
Historical Precedent: Presidential Salutes
The incident drew comparisons to similar controversies involving past administrations. Former President Barack Obama faced comparable scrutiny on multiple occasions, such as when he saluted a Marine while boarding Marine One, briefly stepped back off to speak with him, and then boarded a second time without rendering a salute. Obama also made headlines in the past for saluting service members while holding a coffee cup or a cellphone, as well as facing past allegations regarding military protocol and the national anthem.
Similarly, during his first term, Trump famously stopped to retrieve a Marine’s cover (hat) that had blown off in the wind, but ultimately walked up the stairs to the helicopter without saluting.
Ultimately, while military etiquette in the modern presidency strongly encourages returning salutes to armed forces personnel, it remains a matter of custom rather than a legal mandate.