Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Kennedy Center Reportedly Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
Trump Administration Plans Major Increase in Denaturalization Cases for Naturalized U.S. Citizens 
Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency 
Syria, Kurds and U.S. Race to Show Progress on SDF Integration Deal 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
U.S. House Advances GOP Healthcare Bill as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration 
Trump Attends Dover Ceremony Honoring U.S. Personnel Killed in Syria 
Honduras Election Recount Delayed Amid Protests and Political Tensions 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
Melania Trump faced backlash after she seemingly ignored or forgot an important coronavirus protocol, which is to avoid hugging and touching other people especially strangers.
This week, the FLOTUS presented the awards to 12 rightful recipients of the International Women of Courage award at the State Department. The first lady was joined by the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the event.
Melania shocked the public when she hugged each of the recipients on Wednesday despite her husband, Donald Trump, advising the public to avoid touching their face and other people due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
According to Express, none of the award recipients are from high-risk countries but this doesn’t mean that touching each other is recommended. In fact, health and immunologist specialists have advised American citizens to avoid physical contact with each other and to instead greet each other with an elbow touch.
On Twitter, some critics lambasted Melania for hugging members of the public despite the warnings made by her husband and other health officials.
“What is going on with this government and their inability to reassure the public about a frightening health crisis? Melania Trump defies coronavirus fears to shake hands and hug women?” Twitter user @FozzieBear88 said.
At least one netizen claimed that Melania hugging members of the public were her way of supporting the POTUS’s claim that coronavirus is a hoax.
“To show this coronavirus is all a hoax, we need a video of Pence and Trump hugging and shaking hands today. Then he could go hug Melania, Ivanka, Junior, Eric… and the list goes on,” Twitter user @JackCrimmins_ said.
Some netizens also noticed how the FLOTUS willingly hugged strangers when she can’t even hug her husband.
“You’ll never see Trump hug Melania in public… let alone a photo of it,” Twitter user @doug_reiffer said.
“What do you recommend for @realDonaldTrump to reignite the passion with @FLOTUS? She’s mad at him… Not sure if related but he is raw-dogging porn stars recently. More hugs and smiles? Some surprise hamberders?” Twitter user @mrmmister1 said.
