Donald Trump was seen scratching his head with his middle finger after astronaut Jessica Meir corrected his claim that a space walk last week was the first time a woman had ever set foot outside the International Space Station

Donald Trump has been accused of giving the finger to a female astronaut who gently corrected him during a press conference.

The President of the United States scratched his head with his middle digit after NASA astronaut Jessica Meir corrected an inaccurate claim he’d made.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump said: ‘We’re thrilled to be speaking live with two brave american astronauts who are making history joining us during their space walk outside the International Space Station.

‘And this is the first time for a woman outside of the space station.’


Chatting via video link from above the Earth, Meir, who was joined for the historic walk by fellow astronaut Christina Koch, then said: ‘We don’t want to take too much credit because there have been many other female space walkers before us.

WATCH: President Trump calls into NASA's first ever all-female spacewalk. pic.twitter.com/T5nF2OK6gO — MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 18, 2019



‘This is just the first time that there has been two women outside at the same time.’

Seconds later, Trump scratched his head with his middle finger, prompting immediate speculation as to whether the gesture was deliberately rude or inadvertent.

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Many online critics said the incident was another example of the president’s disregard for women.

One tweeter called KevinlyFather said: ‘Trump TWICE says this is the first female space walk (nope). Then doesn’t understands there’s a delay when talking to space.

‘Jessica Meir corrects him.

Astronauts Christina Koch (left) and Jessica Meir (right) pose for their official Nasa portraits (Nasa)

‘So then… an American President gives an American astronaut THE FINGER!

‘His stupidity is out of the world.’

In 2016, Trump was condemned over a recording which saw him tell pal Billy Bush about how women flocked to him, and how he liked to ‘grab them by the pussy.’

The subsequent outrage prompted a rare unequivocal apology from the ex-reality star, shortly before he went on to win the presidential election.