Twitter chews up Obama after gum gaffe at D-Day

Social media users tore into Barack Obama on Friday after the US president was seen chewing gum during solemn ceremonies to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

People took to Twitter to denounce Obama's "shameful" and "vulgar" chewing, with one user attacking him as a "lout".

"Obama do you want a Coke too while chewing gum while the Marseillaise is being played?" said toto_des_bois, referring to the French national anthem.

"The Queen arrives and you have Obama chewing gum, #DDay70" said diminou, another Twitter user.

The US leader faced similar attacks on social media after he was seen apparently chewing gum during Nelson Mandela's funeral in December.

The most powerful man in the world has faced an on-off battle to quit smoking and often chews a nicotine-based gum to drive away the craving.