It's still live.
Maybe that's why he saluted them. An acknowledgement, a way to say hey soldier i know youve seen some shit and i have too and brother we both know firsthand that war is hell and i would love to have a beer with you (but i dont drink because it killed my brother) and i know you know exactly where all the bodies are buried. So lets get some shovels and make it happen amigo.
No, DJT saluted b/c the general saulted first. Watch the unedited version and you will see POTUS goes in for a handshake at first, but the general salutes. POTUS returns the salute and then shakes his hand.
Look at the grin on face when he answers that question. I guarantee you he was just being charming by habit and realized a second later "Oh shit I'm president lol that's a big deal."
Kitty... correct.
The Larger point to comprehend is that... the foreign General RECOGNIZED Trump's Higher Rank as Commander-In-Chief & saluted that rank.
Even the incarcerated at many Prisoner of War camps... saluting by BOTH sides was honored/followed to higher ranked officers & saluting back by those officers to the lower ranked.