A number of journalists mocked former President Donald Trump’s defense attorney David Schoen after he appeared to hold his head when taking a drink of water.
Schoen paused during his opening argument at Tuesday’s impeachment trial to drink from a water bottle, and when he did so, he covered the back of his head with his right hand. (RELATED: ‘They Dug The Deepest Hole Possible’: Jonathan Turley Says Both Trump And Democrats Are Guilty Of ‘Reckless Rhetoric’)
???? pic.twitter.com/y908QRPOEy
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) February 9, 2021
Journalists questioned the move, and some even mocked him suggesting that his head might fall off or the water might fall out of his head.
what was this? pic.twitter.com/8gbGk0m7EE
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 9, 2021
OH MY GOD HE DID IT AGAIN
what’s happening? pic.twitter.com/8QzwnqwoWc— Oliver Willis (@owillis) February 9, 2021
Does the water fall out of his head, or…??
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) February 9, 2021
Fun fact about Schoen, when he drinks water, he holds the bottle in one hand and puts his other hand on top of his head, like it might fall off when he tips his head back. Check it out.
— Ruth Marcus (@RuthMarcus) February 9, 2021
CNN fact checker Daniel Dale — along with CNN anchor Jake Tapper, former Democratic impeachment attorney Daniel Goldman and others — were quick to explain that Schoen’s religion was the likely reason for his gesture.
“Mr. Schoen is an observant Jew who must cover his head when he takes a sip of water and quietly says a blessing. Since he is not wearing a kippah, he therefore covers his head with his hand,” Goldman said.
Mr. Schoen is an observant Jew who must cover his head when he takes a sip of water and quietly says a blessing. Since he is not wearing a kippah, he therefore covers his head with his hand.
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) February 9, 2021
Schoen is a religious Jew. There are a couple non-mockery-worthy reasons why he might’ve done this. https://t.co/uqU9MLeu0P
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 9, 2021
Mr. Schoen is an observant Jew who must cover his head when he takes a sip of water and quietly says a blessing. Since he is not wearing a kippah, he therefore covers his head with his hand.
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) February 9, 2021
Several of those who had initially questioned or mocked Schoen offered their apologies once they were made aware of the likely reason for his gesture.
I’m going to apologize for this one; I am sorry. I believe it is a religious practice in the absence of his kippah.
— Ruth Marcus (@RuthMarcus) February 9, 2021
Deleting this tweet because someone kindly pointed out to me that he’s doing this because he’s drinking water without a kippah. My apologies.
There’s a lot to ridicule here, but this isn’t one of them. pic.twitter.com/kTZZjcTH6R
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) February 9, 2021
Seeing the unfunny reason for the hand/head gesture, and wishing I’d laid off the snark, like my mom taught. Apologies to Mr. Schoen and I’ll do better!
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) February 9, 2021
fyi apparently this is why he’s holding his head which is perfectly understandable and the most normal thing he’s engaged in today https://t.co/mnP3wa4mbX
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) February 9, 2021
Tuesday was the first day of Trump’s second impeachment trial in the Senate.