Conway’s ~relaxed~ position on the couch raised eyebrows.
White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway was photographed Monday kneeling on an Oval Office couch to snap a photo of President Trump with leaders of historically black colleges.
The moment quickly blew up online, with Conway’s ~relaxed~ position on the couch raising eyebrows.
Wow classy and with feet on sofa! RT @AFP: Kellyanne checks phone after taking photo of President and leaders pic.twitter.com/nfJGAMnPsB
— tabatha coffey (@tabathacoffey) February 28, 2017
Sure, Kellyanne, just make yourself right at home???? On an Oval Office couch??? With all those people there?????? Why not???? https://t.co/D71pExU0Xr
— lindsey marie (@thekuhlest) February 28, 2017
Oh my. pic.twitter.com/25NOvORSXt
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 28, 2017
The White House did not respond to questions about why Conway was kneeling on the couch. However, in an interview with FOX Business Network Tuesday, Conway said, “I certainly meant no disrespect, I didn’t mean to have my feet on the couch.”
“I was being asked to take a picture in a crowded room with the press behind us,” Conway said. “I was asked to take a certain angle and was doing exactly that.”
She went on to blame the media, saying that the photo of her on the couch “came from a journalist who is not happy that Donald Trump is the President.”
The moment sparked an outpouring of memes.
Kellyanne Conway: @AFP pic.twitter.com/gF5Uo0IoiM
— Kragar (@Kragar_LGF) February 28, 2017
"i am sorry ma'am but no shoes on the couch i do not make the rules"@nycsouthpaw pic.twitter.com/dbONSk9Kno
— darth™ (@darth) February 28, 2017
all i can think about when i see that kellyanne conway pic is meme ma'am from veep pic.twitter.com/uPQRjkrBhe
— who (@libsnyds) February 28, 2017
Many felt that Conway was being disrespectful.
remember when republicans used to flip out over obama oval office decorum pic.twitter.com/bGU4F7mlbX
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) February 28, 2017
These are HBCU presidents. they lead colleges and shape young minds Kellyanne is being disrespectful AF texting with her feet up https://t.co/g83Mb43Vtt
— Robin C. McClary (@celestemc) February 28, 2017
The ancestors put plastic on the furniture just for women like Kellyanne Conway. pic.twitter.com/oM7a9uu4MH
— Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) February 28, 2017
Others defended Conway by recalling photos of Obama with his feet on the Oval Office desk — a moment that prompted conservative anger.
I'll take shoes on a couch over this any day. pic.twitter.com/JLE16uQFsF
— Amy Lutz (@amylutz4) February 28, 2017
While others saw the photo as symbolic of larger issues.
In this photo exists every comment on race and on respectability to be had on earth pic.twitter.com/5E2Q38dxaX
— Theodore R. Johnson (@T_R_Johnson_III) February 28, 2017
Now, you can't expect us to take this "meeting" seriously when this is the setting. pic.twitter.com/IAx34PlliM
— deray mckesson (@deray) February 28, 2017
Finally, some people just wondered what exactly Conway was doing on her phone.
omfg charmander in the oval office#Pokemongogen2@nycsouthpaw pic.twitter.com/bnRnMLkQZu
— darth™ (@darth) February 28, 2017
…does Kellyanne have a Snapchat we don't know about? pic.twitter.com/M4nksMqh1d
— Kareem Yasin (@thekareem) February 28, 2017
Kellyanne Conway is clearly calling the police here. pic.twitter.com/DYHtViNxW8
— Diane N. Sevenay (@Diane_7A) February 28, 2017
When that cute person starts texting you back but you in a meeting.
Nope. sorry. I meant this is Kellyanne Conway in a meeting. pic.twitter.com/NxvoFp8a4K— natalie tran (@natalietran) February 28, 2017
Give it up Kellyanne, he's not gunna text you back pic.twitter.com/RiIMFbFxU1
— sam donovan (@imamsamm) February 28, 2017
kellyanne dialing 9-1-1 pic.twitter.com/fcBWnlo3Ll
— Luke Mazur (@lumazur) February 28, 2017