The White House reposted a 2017 photo of President Trump looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse, drawing immediate criticism and concern. The image, taken on August 21, 2017 from the Blue Room Balcony, shows Trump without protective eclipse glasses. Critics warned the repost was potentially dangerous because looking at the sun outside totality can cause permanent retinal damage, while others treated the share as political satire.
White House Reposts Viral Photo of Trump Staring at the Sun on Eclipse Day — Sparks Safety Concerns and Mockery
White House appears to troll Trump on eclipse day with meme of president staring at the sun
The White House reposted a now‑familiar 2017 photograph of President Donald Trump looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse, drawing immediate criticism and a mix of ridicule and warnings about eye safety.
What Happened
The image, taken on August 21, 2017, shows then‑President Trump on the Blue Room Balcony at the White House leaning back and gazing upward without protective eclipse glasses. According to a White House pool report from that day, an aide could be heard shouting, "Don't look!" as the president looked skyward.
The White House reshared an infamous image of President Donald Trump staring directly into the sun instead of using solar eclipse glasses
Why It Matters
Experts strongly advise using certified solar filters or eclipse glasses when viewing a solar eclipse because looking directly at the sun outside the brief period of totality can cause solar retinopathy and permanent retinal damage. The repost prompted public-health concerns that sharing the photo without an explicit safety disclaimer could inadvertently encourage unsafe behavior.
Reactions
The White House's reuse of the image during another eclipse sparked a wide range of responses on social media. Some commenters treated the post as political satire or trolling, while others condemned it as irresponsible.
The image of Trump has been reshared for every solar eclipse since it was taken in 2017 (AFP/Getty)
Ed Krassenstein (social media influencer): "Unlike Trump, Do NOT look directly at the Sun during any phase of a solar eclipse without proper eye protection. Even a few seconds of unprotected viewing can cause solar retinopathy, permanent damage to the retina."
Other users criticized the administration for apparent poor judgment in reposting a photo that normalizes dangerous behavior; some framed the post as ironic because it quoted science authorities such as NASA while showing an image of someone ignoring safety guidance.
Background
The photograph has circulated widely since it was first published in 2017 and is often credited to AFP/Getty in many versions. The image resurfaced in 2024 when another solar eclipse captured attention across the U.S. and U.K., prompting the White House share that reignited debate.
Bottom line: The post rekindled conversation about public safety and political messaging—prompting reminders from health and vision experts to use proper eye protection anytime you view a partial solar eclipse.
Photo credit as commonly circulated: AFP/Getty
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