Looking back (but not directly at) Donald Trump's 2017 solar eclipse moment

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one has a lot to say about solar safety.

Seven years ago, when the last total solar eclipse crossed over North America, a photo of Donald Trump seemingly gazing at the sun with his naked eyes set the internet ablaze.

During the afternoon of Aug. 21, 2017, Trump, who was president at the time, was joined by then first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron to watch the rare phenomenon from the Truman Balcony at the White House.

Photos taken by members of the media captured all three donning eclipse glasses while looking at the eclipse.

But at one point during the viewing, the former president was captured in photos and videos without proper eye protection, seemingly looking directly at the sun.

"As he did so, one of the White House aides standing beneath the Blue Room Balcony shouted ‘don’t look,'" according to the White House pool report of the moment filed by Ben Jacobs, a former political reporter for The Guardian.

Looking at an eclipse before or after the brief phase of totality without proper eyewear can lead to eye damage.

The shot would eventually became an online meme, mocking Trump for failing to heed warnings about the dangers of staring directly at the sun.

Here's a look back at Trump's eclipse moment and why protective eyewear is important come Monday.

Real life cautionary tales:Can you really go blind from looking at a solar eclipse?

When and why you need eclipse glasses

A total solar eclipse is a rare phenomenon. When it occurs, three celestial spheres − the sun, moon and Earth −line up in a specific way in space.

During the paradox, the moon appears as the same size as the sun and blocks the entire disk from Earth, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes.

On Monday, much of the country will be able to witness the eclipse in some way (a partial eclipse) while millions on the eclipse's path of totality can see a total solar eclipse.

Unlike partial solar eclipses, a total eclipse offers spectators a unique opportunity to look at the phenomenon with the naked eye, but only during the brief period of totality − when the moon completely blocks out the sun and darkness falls.

But NASA experts say directly staring at the sun before and after the total eclipse or watching a partial eclipse outside the path of totality without proper eye protection can result in severe eye damage and even blindness.

On the afternoon of the 2017 eclipse, Washington, D.C, was outside the path of totality which means people there - including Trump − only witnessed a partial eclipse.

Although it's rare, eye damage from watching a partial eclipse is possible as a person's natural response to squint when looking at sunlight does not get triggered.

Though Trump's vision is seemingly still in tact, it's not a good idea to look at the the eclipse without proper glasses.

Listen to the eclipse 😎

Internet's 2017 reaction to Trump staring at eclipse

On the day of the 2017 eclipse, Trump's actions nearly broke the internet.

"Justin Trudeau, king of not burning his retinas vs Trump staring into the sun during the eclipse," one user posted on X, with side-by-side photos of Trudeau and Trump looking at the eclipse with only the Canadian Prime Minister wearing proper eye protection.

Even before Trump was captured on camera looking at the sun without proper eye protection, one X user posted a pair of fake, New York Times news alerts shot on a phone suggesting Trump suffered "permanent eye damage" after "looking directly at the eclipse," according to KnowYourMeme.com.

Someone also posted the photo of Trump seemingly looking at the eclipse on Reddit drawing entertaining comments including:

• "Trump's eyes are naturally protected with 75 layers of spray tan."
• "This photo never gets old."
• "He was just trying to get the light inside his body to fight future COVID."
• "That should be his presidential portrait.

Will Trump stare into the eclipse again on April 8? The internet speaks.

Puns about Trump staring into the sun are once again circulating on social media ahead of Monday's eclipse mania.

Last month, one X user polled the social media outlet over whether Trump will do it again.

"Will there be pictures of trump staring directly into the sun, again, in the coming eclipse?" the user posted on the platform above the poll.

Late last month, @DonaldJTrumpJr posted on X, "Joe Biden is the only presidential candidate that can hide his own Easter eggs."

Shortly after one X user clapped back a GIF of the photo with the caption "Donald Trump is the only president who stared up into an eclipse."

Some people even question if the current President of the United States will watch the eclipse during totality without eye protection.

"Is anyone worried that Joe Biden will look directly into the sun?" another person posted.

When and where to see the April 8 total solar eclipse

On Monday, the total solar eclipse will chart a 115-mile-wide path of totality across parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

In the U.S. alone, hundreds of cities and smaller towns in 13 states lie along the path of totality.

Additionally, NASA says, portions of Michigan and Tennessee are expected to experience the eclipse.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Gabe Hauari and Eduardo Cuevas

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.