Gov. Phil Murphy’s son makes odd OK gesture during dad’s swearing-in ceremony
TRENTON » The focus of Phil Murphy’s swearing-in ceremony should have been the governor taking the oath of office on former President John F. Kennedy’s bible.
Instead, his eldest son, Josh, stole the show for making a controversial OK sign hand gesture on Tuesday at the end of his dad’s shining moment.
In a NJ.com video posted to YouTube, right before Murphy says, ‘So help me God,” his 20-year-old son lowers his right hand below his waist and sustains an upside-down OK symbol gesture for at least five seconds while shaking his head. His actions indicate the gesture was intentional.
Save Jersey was the first to report the gaffe.
As with recent history in Trenton, hand gestures can mean a whole bunch of things.
An “OK” sign sculpture was removed this summer from the intersection of Perry and Montgomery streets in Trenton because cops feared it resembled a Bloods gang sign.
The Matawan Township Police Department recently had to remove a Facebook post after an officer was flaunting an upside down OK sign below his waist like Murphy’s son. Some feared the gesture represented a symbol associated with white supremacist groups.
And perhaps more innocently — and possibly Murphy’s son’s intention — the upside down OK sign was a reference to the circle game made famous by the TV show “Malcolm in the Middle.” If a participant catches someone glancing at an upside-down OK hand gesture below the waist, the looker receives a punch in the shoulder.
Still, it’s not a good look for Murphy’s son, who is a 20-year-old college student and worked on his dad’s campaign. The circle game is generally played by grade-school children.
None of Josh’s three younger siblings appeared to be participating in their older brother’s supposed prank.
Last year, Josh attended Tufts University as a sophomore in his dad’s home state of Massachusetts. He played on the school’s soccer team and was majoring in international relations, according to his soccer profile.
He listed his dream job as governor of New Jersey. Time to start growing up if that is a true aspiration.
A Murphy spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.