President Trump Stares Directly At Solar Eclipse

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump is famous for waving off experts and reports as "fake news." So as warnings reached a crescendo Monday not to look directly at the sun, it's perhaps not a surprise he was captured by photographers staring directly at the solar eclipse at the White House.

Trump was joined by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, and son Barron Trump on the Truman Balcony at the White House as the eclipse rolled through the D.C. area on Monday afternoon, blotting out about 82 percent of the sun at its peak at around 2:42 p.m.

Trump looked not once, not twice, but three times directly at the sun without any eye protection. Remarkably, this happened despite one of the White House aides standing beneath the Blue Room Balcony shouting to him, "don't look," according to the White House pool report.

What It's Like Under A Total Solar Eclipse

Finally, Trump caved and put on protective eyewear, as did his wife and son.

It's a good thing he did, for his sake. Staring at the sun even for a short period of time, and even during a partial eclipse, can do permanent damage to your eyes. If you've damaged your eyes, you won't feel it, as there are no pain receptors in your retinas. And even a glimpse of the sun is risky, experts warn.

Twitter was quick to mock the president for the gaffe, as usual:

Scientists: Don't look at the eclipse without special glasses

Donald Trump: Fake news pic.twitter.com/g4TlS34GpF
— Moe (@MoeAlayan) August 21, 2017

Aaaaaand here's your photo of Trump looking straight at the eclipse pic.twitter.com/5vv6sVTDIl
— Stefan Marolachakis (@stefanmymind) August 21, 2017

I honestly didn't think there could be a way Trump could embarrass us just by watching a solar eclipse.

Yet, here we are.
— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) August 21, 2017

#Trump doesn’t need protective eye wear! “I have the greatest corneas of all time, really. The best.” #Eclipse pic.twitter.com/uXdsQGsz9j
— Shawna Hazlett ن (@shawnahaze) August 21, 2017

President Donald Trump looks up toward the solar eclipse on the Truman Balcony at the White House on Aug. 21. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images News/Getty Images)