BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

Marco Rubio and Ivanka Trump respond to failed hug gags

  • Published
    21 June 2017
Share page
About sharing
Picture of awkward interaction between Sen> Marco Rubio and Ivanka TrumpImage source, @yasher/Twitter
ByRozina Sini
BBC News

Ever had that awkward moment when you go in for a hug but the receiver doesn't really seem into it?

Republican Senator Marco Rubio knows the feeling. He was attending a business meeting on Tuesday with President Trump's daughter Ivanka when he was snapped in this failed interaction.

Social media users were quick to notice the weirdness.

One Twitter user posted:, external " Nothing about @IvankaTrump's body language invites this hug from @marcorubio."

While another joked:, external "Love to engage in that famous human show of affection, the hug."

*Rubio after waiting for two hours behind the pillarImage source, @donmoyn/Twitter

Twitter investigation

Hours after the awkward exchange Senator Rubio responded to the jokes being made at his expense with a series of humorous tweets.

Just left Intel comm & informed meeting 2day with @IvankaTrump blowing up twitter over alleged failed hug! Investigating. Will respond soonImage source, @marcorubio/Twitter

Minutes later and with the "investigation" underway, Rubio offered further evidence of the interaction.

We believe we have our own unclassified photographic evidence that will shed greater details on this incident.Image source, @marcorubio/Twitter
line

You might also like:

  • How quilting got ripped apart by American politics

  • Memes mocking Twitter's major redesign

  • Peter Crouch jokes about giraffe genes in holiday snap

line
We are also attempting to acquire multi-angle video which we believe will provide greater insight into this important matter.Image source, @marcorubio/Twitter

Senator Rubio then reaches out to social media users for help.

If you were filming at the Senate carriage entrance today between 11:20-11:25 am we are seeking your assistance with an active investigationImage source, @marcorubio/Twitter

One user obliged with this image:

Here's an alternate angle:Image source, @ItsActuallyHim/twitter

Later, the senator posted new pictures appearing to show a less awkward encounter. But the jokes kept on coming.

New photo emerges providing more insight into alleged failed hug. (Faces blurred for security purposes)Image source, @marcorubio/Twitter
BREAKING NEWS: Additional photo from moments right after today's alleged failed hug provide new details to this developing story.Image source, @marcorubio/Twitter

Finally Senator Rubio decided to close his investigation by claiming there was no hug.

Based on review of evidence & my own recollection, have concluded no hug was even attempted & press covfefe of alleged failed hug is falseImage source, @marcorubio/Twitter

What began as a joke about a embarrassing hug quickly turned into criticism as social media users responded to the senator's mock investigation.

One user tweeted:, external "Hilarious, sure, covfefe even thrown in, but can you, ya know, give us some details on the health care bill? thanks."

And another posted:, external "Dude you're already pretty bad at your job, don't be bad at comedy, too."

On Wednesday morning, hours after it seemed the matter was closed, there was a plot twist as Ivanka Trump herself took to Twitter with her own response:, external

"Anonymous sources say @marcorubio planned the alleged failed hug. I have no comment (but I would have hugged him anyway!)".

She tweeted again stating the whole thing was 'fake news' but confirmed a hug did take place and it was more than satisfactory.

Fake news! Marco is an excellent hugger...Image source, @IvankaTrump/Twitter

By the UGC and Social News Team

You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, and find us on Facebook. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.

More on this story

  • Trump's plans for Cuba: What's at stake?

    • Published
      10 June 2017
    Cuban and US flags in Havana
  • Arrests at Ivanka Trump supplier backed

    • Published
      6 June 2017
    Workers on a production line at the Huajian shoe factory in Dongguan, in southern China's Guangdong province (14 September 2016)
  • Ivanka Trump condemns 'vicious' critics

    • Published
      12 June 2017
    Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner (23 May 2017)
  • Outrage at Republican health bill secrecy

    • Published
      20 June 2017
    A doctor examines a patient in San Francisco, California

Top stories

  • British couple freed by Taliban hug daughter in emotional reunion

    • Published
      7 minutes ago
  • US TV hosts back Kimmel as Trump threatens TV networks

    • Published
      1 hour ago
  • Minister rejects Trump's call for military to tackle illegal migration

    • Published
      3 minutes ago

More to explore

  • Joy Crookes 'let go' of perfectionism - her music is better for it

    A spotlight picks Joy Crookes out of a crowd in a nightclub, in a promo shot for her new album
  • Ros Atkins on… What Kimmel's suspension means for free speech in the US

    Jimmy Kimmel
  • Weekly quiz: Why were these nuns on the run?

    Three elderly nuns smile as they stand in front of the monastery, wearing their habits. Sister Rita on the left and Sister Regina in the centre both wear glasses, while Sister Bernadette on the right does not.
  • Why France is at risk of becoming the new sick man of Europe

    Two edited images of Emmanuel Macron and people taking part in a demonstration at the Place de la Republique square
  • Chris Mason: Delight and relief in government after state visit

    Donald Trump and Keir Starmer laugh as they speak into microphones in front of a blue backdrop that shows UK and US flags, at a business event at Chequers on Thursday.
  • China is calling a TikTok deal a win. What's in it for them?

    In this photo illustration, the logo of TikTok is displayed on a smartphone screen on April 5, 2025 in Shanghai, China. In the background is the American flag, cut  in the shape of Donald Trump's face.
  • Ferguson on music, memory and dementia projects

    • Attribution
      Sport
    Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
  • 'It's not easy': Reform council strives to identify promised savings

    Lancashire County Council building
  • Trolls mock me for having fewer viewers, Fortnite streamer Ninja tells BBC

    Ninja
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    Ambulance workers arrested after six people die

  2. 2

    British couple freed by Taliban hug daughter in emotional reunion

  3. 3

    US TV hosts back Kimmel as Trump threatens TV networks

  4. 4

    House full of rubbish goes to auction at £38k

  5. 5

    Minister rejects Trump's call for military to tackle illegal migration

  6. 6

    Why France is at risk of becoming the new sick man of Europe

  7. 7

    Taliban official dismisses Trump's hope to 'take back' Afghan airbase

  8. 8

    US blocks UN call for Gaza ceasefire for sixth time

  9. 9

    Migrant returned to France after government wins court challenge

  10. 10

    Murder manhunt after two found shot in car

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • How did Sarm Heslop disappear from a yacht?

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Missing in Paradise: Searching for Sarm
  • Celebrating 200 years of the modern railway

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Michael Portillo's 200 Years of the Railways
  • A look at the life of iconic model Twiggy

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Twiggy
  • The return of a trippy, comic joyride

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Juice S2
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.