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It's pretty safe to say President Trump did a few attention-grabbing things this weekend on the first leg of his 

 to the leaders of Muslim-majority countries, for instance, and took part in a sword dance with Saudi leaders in Riyadh.

As you might have heard, he also touched a glowing orb.

At the gala inauguration of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology — an institution billed as a cooperative effort to confront extremism "by the latest intellectual, media and numerical methods and means" — Trump joined Saudi King Salman and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in laying their hands on a lit-up globe.

: "Trump and the King each placed their hands on a miniature globe that officially activated the center and launched a splashy welcome video."

Then, they continued to palm the sphere for 

 as they watched, lights dimmed and orb aglow — while cameras snapped away.

Which, of course, means Twitter noticed, too.

https://twitter.com/s_westall/status/866351673907830784

Ever helpful and earnest, our fair friends on social media quickly stepped in to clarify the situation for befuddled onlookers. That is, they offered a few suggestions about what it's fairly safe to say Trump did not do.

For instance, it's pretty safe to say Trump did not break a campaign pledge to resist the all-knowing orb's deceitful and deadly attractions.

https://twitter.com/NickGreene/status/866369219578912769

He probably did not make a wish, negotiate with the glowing orb or see his future. Mark our words: He did not even sic a troop of orcs on the heroic, if reluctant and undersized, possessor of the One Ring to Rule Them All.

https://twitter.com/KrangTNelson/status/866435249819066369

https://twitter.com/rolldiggity/status/866375075913531392

https://twitter.com/cooperlund/status/866372432575201280

https://twitter.com/darth/status/866375485688651777

Sure, we'll admit the possibility Trump disappointed campaign rival Jeb Bush. But it also appears he did not impress Breitbart, a media outlet that has 

 and quite often has his back at moments such as these.

https://twitter.com/BreitbartNews/status/866420769403875331

https://twitter.com/kept_simple/status/866393069863800832

And finally, let's be very, very clear on this point: Trump did not take part in a satanic ritual.

https://twitter.com/ChurchofSatan/status/866453928535236608

Arts and Culture

Politics and Government News

Colin Dwyer

Author

It seemed an innocuous gesture: President Trump joined two other world leaders in laying their hands on a lit-up globe at an event in Saudi Arabia. Then, Twitter caught wind of it.

Here's the deal with that glowing orb - and plenty of notes on what it isn't

Go Deeper.

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