Obama chews gum during R-day parade, gets social media talking

The social media got into tizzy, as US president Barack Obama was caught chewing a gum during the Republic Day parade on Monday.

As India put out quite a spectacular show of its military hardware and cultural diversity, Obama, the chief guest of the Republic Day celebrations, was caught on camera taking out a chewing gum and sticking it back into his mouth.

As goes the saying, "old habits die hard", Obama has been repeatedly caught chewing gums during important events. He was criticized by people of China for arriving, with chewing gum in his mouth, at a formal banquet of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing last year.

He was again seen repeating this habit during the first plenary session at the G20 summit in Brisbane last November.

However, news reports said that he chews nicotine gum often as he has been trying to quit smoking.  

Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent of The New York Times, on his Twitter account wrote that what Obama was chewing was  "probably Nicorette."

Obama appears to be enjoying parade, shown on Indian television bobbing his head with the music. Seems to be chewing gum, probably Nicorette

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) January 26, 2015

Barack bhai working his jaws overtime and chewing gum! At least it isn't gutka. But seriously - gum during a formal parade?

— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) January 26, 2015

I'm frankly a bit grossed out that Obama is chewing the same gum for the last two hours. The hotness is wearing off a bit. Who DOES that?

— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) January 26, 2015

Obama chewing gum. Jaitley eating peanuts. Pranab having hojmiguli, I suppose.

— Brown Sahiba (@Rajyasree) January 26, 2015

However, not everyone picking on the US president for chewing gum. 

How foolish are those debating Obama "caught" chewing gum. He arrived chewing gum, what's your problem? Rone walo ko rone ka bahana chahiye

— गीतिका (@ggiittiikkaa) January 26, 2015

Entire world sees the development of India-US ties. #IndianMedia sees Obama chewing gum. Is it a desperate way... http://t.co/lfBOWJypmt

— Bhanu Vadlakonda (@bhanuv3) January 26, 2015