As Egypt erupted in violence and hundreds died Wednesday, the White House tweeted a tribute to “Hump Day” —a photo of Vice President Joseph R. Biden posing with a camel.
The White House also posted an animated .gif file to its Tumblr blog of the vice president laughing with the ungulate, before tweeting nearly two hours later about the violence in Egypt.
“The United States strongly condemns the use of violence against protesters in #Egypt,” it said.
The White House’s decision to post the camel picture during the crackdown in Egypt brought a swift rebuke in the Twittersphere.
“Go home, @whitehouse, you’re drunk,” Huffington Post reporter Elise Foley tweeted.
“Obama is so much like Lincoln,” National Review editor Charles C.W. Cooke scoffed.
PHOTOS: Shocking moment: Egyptian protestors push occupied armored police vehicle off bridge
“Massacre in Egypt. Hyper-sensitive @whitehouse tweets picture of Biden with a camel. #smartdiplomacy,” another user said.
The White House offered condolences to the families of those who have been killed in Egypt.
“The world is watching what is happening in Cairo. We urge the government of Egypt - and all parties in Egypt - to refrain from violence and resolve their differences peacefully,” it said in a statement Wednesday.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.