‘Knew Bush Could Fight’: George W. Bush’s Split-Second Move Saves Him from an Awkward Mishap That Had Fans Rewinding the Clip in Shock
Seventeen years have passed since George W. Bush dodged thrown shoes during a press conference in Baghdad, and people are still getting a kick out of the infamous clip. The video is recirculating on social media; only this time, folks are letting the jokes fly.
A video that recently circulated on Threads user, prompting reactions from more than 5,000 accounts. “This video brings me so much joy. Still my favorite thing ever,” the original poster wrote.
In the footage originally from 2008, Bush stood at a podium next to then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki when a man’s dress shoe was hurled in his direction. The Republican leader quickly ducked down as the footwear narrowly cleared the top of his head.
A second shoe followed soon after. It was stopped by Maliki, who reached his hand up to deflect the object from striking the U.S. commander in chief.
Bush managed to dodge both shoes with surprising reflexes, as she smiled, seemingly tickled by the outburst, as security sprang into action. He then joked about the encounter and brushed off the tension, a moment that continues to fascinate viewers years later for his calm, almost comedic reaction under pressure.
He even motioned to a Secret Service agent that he was okay. The disgruntled conference attendee who targeted the president was identified as Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi. At the time, Bush told ABC News, “It was amusing. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of weird things during my presidency and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest.”
In the Middle East, throwing a shoe or showing the sole of a show at someone is an offense equivalent to throwing dirt. However, Bush said he did not feel insulted. Present-day, folks have declared that the debacle will never not be funny.
George W. Bush ~ A Rare Thread
1. In 2008 during a press conference in Baghdad an Iraqi journalist famously threw his shoe at then President-George W. Bush as a form of protest. pic.twitter.com/5t19L3qlod
— Crazy Moments (@Crazymoments01) August 23, 2025
One user theorized that Bush was a terror during his upbringing, so the show throw was familiar. They wrote, “He been dodging shoes since childhood I KNOW Lady Barbara was throwing them thangs at his tail OFTEN.”
A second reaction read, “This is how I knew Bush could fight and look at that smirk.” A third individual remained fixated on “his smug smile,” which proved just how unbothered he was by the incident.
People with a shared disdain for Bush and Donald Trump left comments like, “W had some reflexes on him. I would like to see the current ones reflexes.” Another said, “His reflexes was crazy tho.”
To the surprise of some, Trump touts himself as more superior president, even in area of fitness and mental aptitude, than past presidents Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.