Biden and Trudeau Miss G20 Leaders’ Photo Due to Timing Error

U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau missed the traditional group photo of world leaders during the G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The event marked Biden’s final appearance at a G20 summit as President, a significant moment overshadowed by his absence from the photograph.

According to reports, the delay that caused Biden and Trudeau to miss the photo shoot was attributed to «logistical issues.» A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that the photo session occurred earlier than scheduled, catching the leaders off guard as they arrived at the designated location only to find the other leaders dispersing.

The photograph, a customary tradition at such summit events, showcased other prominent leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gathered against the scenic backdrop of Rio’s Sugarloaf Mountain. Following the photo session, Biden and Trudeau were observed conferring together, joined by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was also absent from the picture.

This mishap comes amid Biden’s swan song on the international stage, where he has been seeking to solidify his foreign policy legacy before a potential return to «America First» policies under Donald Trump, his successor in the Republican Party. Biden’s agenda at the summit included calls for international support for Ukraine’s sovereignty amidst ongoing conflict with Russia.

Notably absent from the summit was Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose activities have been internationally scrutinized due to an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over events related to the Ukraine war. Representing Russia at the summit instead was Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who took a position in the back row during the photograph.

This year’s G20 summit in Rio brought together leaders to discuss global economic cooperation, climate change, and international security, with rising geopolitical tensions forming a backdrop to the proceedings.