US President Donald Trump mocked for staring at total solar eclipse

WHILE Australians did not get to see the great American eclipse, we are able to look at something that some would argue is better than the once-in-a-century event. 

And that is US President Donald Trump watching the eclipse.

Americans were warned by NASA experts and astronomers not to look directly at the eclipse without specially-made glasses that were being sold everywhere. You would think being the president you’d be able to at least get your hands on some.

Total solar eclipse dazzles spectators across U.S.

Eclipse blindness is a serious danger. You wouldn’t stare at the sun, and same goes for an eclipse. Unless you’re Donald Trump of course.

Mr Trump was snapped watching the eclipse with the First Lady, Melania Trump, and their son Barron from the balcony of the White House.

A White House aide in the crowd below shouted “Don’t look!” right as @POTUS looked.

Our #SolarEclipse Edition: https://t.co/l0NO46gCGN pic.twitter.com/x0ToMxtXnU

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 21, 2017

To be fair he was wearing his special eclipse glasses, but for some unknown reason decided to take them off to stare at the sun as the solar eclipse began on Monday.

The pictures of him squinting and pointing at the sun are internet gold and it’s going to become the world’s most favourite meme.

When you play yourself...#TrumpMustResign #TrumpEclipse pic.twitter.com/nLe8eRRugf

— Ignacio López O. (@realPOTUMS) 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

Twitter has gone into meltdown over the photo, with one tweeting: “My little kids knew not too look without glasses.”

Another said: “We spent months telling people not to look at the eclipse and Trump just ... he just looked at it.”

Others are suggesting Mr Trump thought scientists’ warnings were “fake news”.

To be fair to Mr Trump, he did end up putting on the glasses and appeared blown away by the eclipse.

It was the most-observed and most-photographed eclipse in history, with many Americans staking out prime viewing spots and settling onto blankets and lawn chairs to watch, especially along the path of totality — the line of deep shadow created when the sun is completely obscured except for the ring of light known as the corona.

Hey, our President may have irreparably damaged his retinas? #eclipse pic.twitter.com/aZdfOGVuUi

— Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) August 21, 2017

The shadow — a corridor just 96 to 113 kilometres wide — came ashore in Oregon and then travelled diagonally across the Midwest to South Carolina, with darkness from the totality lasting only about two to three wondrous minutes in any one spot.

The rest of North America was treated to a partial eclipse, as were Central America and northern areas of South America.

With 200 million people within a day’s drive from the path of totality, towns and parks saw big crowds.

Total eclipse: In pictures