It’s no surprise that US President Donald Trump was at odds with his fellow world leaders at the G7 Summit.
The Group of Seven, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Theresa May and German-Chancellor Angela Merkel, met in Quebec City this week to discuss everything from trade to climate change – and it was clear that things were going to be tense.
Other leaders present at the summit were angered by some of Trump’s recent decisions, including his withdrawal from the Paris climate change agreement, his decision to impose trade tariffs on the US’s steel exports to Europe and Canda and his recent withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
But it’s this viral photograph that really captured the tense mood of the summit.
“Day two of the G7 summit in Canada: spontaneous meeting between two working sessions,” the photograph was captioned on Angela Merkel’s Instagram page.
In the photo, which has since gone viral, German Chancellor Merkel is seen standing above President Trump, who is seated with his arms crossed.
In the background, an unimpressed-looking Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe crosses his arms as he watches the pair speak.
Twitter users agreed that the photograph perfectly captured the tense mood of the summit, with some even likening it to a “renaissance painting”.
A diplomatic source at the G7 reportedly told Buzzfeed News that prior to the spontaneous meeting pictured, Trump had told each of the countries present what they “owed” the US, in trade and defence.
He also dramatically threatened that the US would “stop trading with them” if things aren’t changed to his liking soon.
“This has been the most awkward G7 meeting in its 43 years of history and it’s due to Trump’s behaviour,” Keith Suter said on Sunrise this morning.
Merkel’s photograph isn’t the only photograph of the summit to go viral – French President Emmanuel Macron was pictured giving Trump a particularly firm handshake, which left Trump with imprints on his hands.
Prior to the summit, Trump and Macron had exchanged words on Twitter over Trump’s controversial to impose tariffs on trade exports from Europe.
Trump was caught out on camera again when he arrived late to the summit’s gender equality breakfast meeting. Canadian PM Trudeau had already finished delivering his opening statement when Trump took his seat next to French politician Christine Lagarde.
With Trump set to meet with Kim Jong-un later this week, there’s no doubt there’ll be even more awkward photos to come…
Top Comments
There is also another photo from Rueters taken a minute or so later (which is copyrighted, so I cannot link it) which shows everyone laughing and grinning.
As always I have to declare the fact, I am not defending Trump but pointing out how the media works.
I am also not usually a fan of these photos that attribute so much to one second - but Shinzo Abe's face hahaha, I have made that same face in so many meetings!
Resting Meeting Face (RMF) is real - you too can contribute to this debilitating condition. ;o)
Angela Merkel is a former research scientist with a Doctorate in Quantum Chemistry ie. Molecular Quantum Mechanics.
Trump is a businessman & TV personality.
What on earth would they have in common ?
I'd say (by his body language ) that he figures he's winning.......at something.
Her exasperation with him must be legendary by now.
That photo looks like me trying to get my four year old nephew to eat broccoli.
Not a fan of corporal punishment but all I can think is he needs a good smack and time out to think about his petulance and disobedience...
I think that he looks defensive - arms crossed. Merkel looks assertive - leaning in.
Trump won't like this photo, he's so obsessed with (not) having the appearance of weakness, it makes him exploitable and weak.