Note to Comey: Avoiding a hug from Trump takes practice. Just ask Hillary Clinton
UPDATED (2:15 p.m. ET) to include Hillary Clinton's reaction.
No one wants to hug Donald Trump. Not James Comey and especially not Hillary Clinton.
SEE ALSO: James Comey once pulled a Sean Spicer to avoid Trump
Back before that first presidential debate in September of 2016 — which seems decades ago — we wondered how awkward the first exchange of pleasantries between Trump and Clinton would be.
Well, now, thanks to some great behind-the-scenes video, we know that was also on the minds of the Clinton campaign.
Not easy to avoid the unwanted Trump hug, sometimes it even takes practice...
A favorite moment from debate prep (9/24/16): pic.twitter.com/JAAHaqKFoa— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 19, 2017
The above video was shared by Philippe Reines, a "long-time Clinton confidant," who also played the role of Trump in debate prep. In the video, Clinton can be seen dodging an attempt at a hug from "Trump."
The Frankenstein-like approach to a hug seems eerily accurate, though "Trump's" chasing after Clinton after being awkwardly denied was probably hyperbole. Probably. We'll (thankfully) never know.
And, yes, even though that video is super blurry and apparently taken on a 10-year-old Blackberry, Reines confirmed on Twitter that is, indeed, Hillary Clinton.
@Cybelline That's her, in the flesh.
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 19, 2017
So don't worry, Comey, you weren't the only one who went to great lengths to avoid Trump's admiration.
UPDATE: It looks like Hillary herself remembers this moment fondly, as well.
I burst out laughing when I saw this video this morning. Hope it brightens your day. https://t.co/CEcdoaQUuC
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 19, 2017
#NoTrumpHugs indeed.