White House Denies Prez Bowed to Saudi King

The White House denies President Obama broke centuries of protocol by bowing to a foreign monarch at the G20 talks, Politico reports. A video from the summit showing the president dipping as he greeted Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has infuriated right-wingers who believe the movement was a bow. The deep dip won praise for the president in parts of the Arab world.

"It wasn't a bow," said a White House aide. "He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah." (More King Abdullah stories.)