Michelle Obama Did Not Lovingly Embrace George W. Bush

You may have seen the above photo of Michelle Obama apparently hugging George W. Bush at the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture somewhere online this weekend. It was passed around as an image that was, in the words of MSNBC.com, “so moving.”

Yesterday, the NAACP used the photo in a bizarre inspirational tweet, and today no authority less than White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the photo showed Obama’s “genuine affection” for Bush, which, okay.

Maybe that is true or maybe Earnest is attempting to spin the story, as is his job. Either way, there is good news for everyone, which is that Michelle Obama’s warm embrace of George W. Bush never actually happened. Here is video of the hug, which lasted a split-second:

This is looks more like the sort of hug you give to someone that you don’t particularly like in order to be polite, and anyway Obama’s pained grimace gives her away.