As a veteran, the lack of salutes and especially seeing the NGs turning their back on Joe - stand out to me.
But I don't want to put any stock in this yet. Concerned about my own confirmation bias.
I have not seen a salute exchanged. Have any of you?
I sent my new ....lets say....pink pilled, former army reserve, significant other the video of the soldiers turning their back, not saluting, and out of formation to POTATUS on inauguration day. He said, "so...a few guys aren't saluting...*shrug" Sidenote: I was engaged to a Staff Sargent (now deseased) and he'd complain about "having to salute assholes" Have to. 'Have to' salute. Have to....no choice.
It is a HUGE deal that they aren't in any position of formal recognition/attention....let alone the guys in the back with their backs turned at the motorcade!
Mad disrespectful. How could anyone who even kinda served not get that?
Yeah. It's huge.
I failed to salute a butter-bar one time. I greeted the officer but I did not salute because we were under a covered walkway. I wasn't trying to show any disrespect. The officer didn't seem to mind but the SSGT walking with her blew his lid. - Turning your back on the supposed CIC is a million times worse.
Or think of any change of command ceremony you ever had to participate in.
And you're right about the lack of formation too.
While in Kuwait - if we were visited by anyone, politicians, generals, whoever - we were in formation.
Much discussion of biden being a foreign dignitary from the city state of DC visiting America... The last CEO (???) of USA Inc being rendered what ARE proper 'honors'..