Who do you think you are?: Chilean president justifies breaking protocol and sitting at Obama's desk by saying his daughter was born in America



It was his first official White House visit, and already Chilean President Sebastián Piñera's causing a stir - for the wrong reasons.



In an embarrassing faux pas, the 63-year-old billionaire sat down at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office on Tuesday, breaking the White House’s political protocols.



'I’m going to sit at the President of the United States’ desk,' Piñera said in front of a visibly surprised President Barack Obama.

'I'm going to sit at the President of the United States' desk': Chilean President Sebastián Piñera helps himself to the seat of visibly surprised President Barack Obama

And to make matters worse, the businessman-turned-politician justified his actions by saying: 'You know my daughter was born in the United States.'

Huffington Post reports Piñera appeared to sit down spontaneously, without consulting Obama’s advisers or security personnel.



Amid surprised laughter, someone in the room asked Obama how many other world presidents had made such a bold move, as heard in this clip .

Obama responded playfully: 'He’s the only one.'

First official visit: U.S. President Barack Obama, pictured right, welcomed Chilean President Sebastián Piñera to the White House on Tuesday

Obama welcomed his Chilean counterpart to the White House on Tuesday, praising the South American country’s growing economy and democratic advancement.