When you do not know how an artifact of an important organization works, and when a sign clearly says "DO NOT TOUCH", you are breaking the rules. When someone dares you to touch something that you don't know how it works and the aformentioned sign is in place and you concede to this challenge, you are not displaying the qualities of a world leader, but of a childish person who doesn't know to keep his/her hands away from stuff that you shouldn't touch.

Even if it was okay, unless they specifically told him that it was perfectly okay, there's no excusing this person. His credibility has been tarnished as a respectable and law-abiding politician in my eyes. You can even be one of my favourite leaders and that still doesn't excuse you in my book.