I’m going to go against the grain of comments here.
When a foreign person comes to America, we are expected to go out of our way to make allowances for them and not expect them to understand or follow our customs. We’re never supposed to be offended if they follow their customs rather than ours. That’s part of being PC and not eurocentric or ethnocentric.
When an American goes overseas, we are expected to bone up in advance on local customs so we can understand and follow them. We’re supposed to be terribly embarassed if we fall back, even accidentally, into our own way of doing things. That’s part of being PC and not eurocentric or ethnocentric.
What I don’t understand is why only Europeans and particularly Americans have this standard applied. Why don’t Burmese have to learn to not be asiacentric or ethnocentric?
Generally here in the USA men in professional situations don't go around kissing women on the cheek that they have never met before. In most circumstances that would be seen as awkward at best, and maybe an example of sexual harassment. A handshake is the normal American greeting in formal business situations.
In most situations even in social circumstances in the USA kissing some woman you've never met before is frowned upon. It is particularly a bad idea in biker bars, at rodeos, and when meeting some guy and his wife for the first time.
Perhaps the POTUS thought he was in Thailand in one of those "tourist" neighborhoods, instead of meeting a world renowned leader.
When a foreign person comes to America, we are expected to go out of our way to make allowances for them and not expect them to understand or follow our customs.
When an American goes overseas, we are expected to bone up in advance on local customs so we can understand and follow them.
ANY head of state, whether visiting the US or going abroad are expected to follow PROTOCOL!!!!
Presidents have teams of advisors whose duties include protocol. Apparently, Barry’s fired his advisors and assigned their duties to the same mental patient who advises Michelle on her wardrobe.