Biden arrives late, misses important G20 photo opportunity

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President Biden missed the traditional G20 leaders’ photo opportunity at his final summit, arriving late alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the official picture had already been taken. The tardy entrance left them watching other world leaders socializing after the group shot.

The delay resulted in Chinese President Xi Jinping occupying the central position in the photograph, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov standing in the back row against the backdrop of Rio de Janeiro’s blue skies and waters.

Biden misses G20 group photo in latest embarrassment: ‘He’s behind the palm tree!’ https://t.co/y7WrH12inw pic.twitter.com/RgAAHJlsfj

— New York Post (@nypost) November 18, 2024

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“A senior Biden administration official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said Biden and other leaders missed the photo because of ‘logistical issues.'”

The official explained that the photo session occurred earlier than planned, despite Biden’s intention to participate. When Biden and Trudeau finally reached the designated location, they stood briefly before realizing their missed opportunity.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also missed the traditional photograph, which was taken to launch Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s initiative against global hunger. The three leaders who missed the main photo later gathered for their own informal photo session.

Breaking🚨 Joe Biden Disrespectfully misses a photo op with World Leaders at the G20 Summit.

They all walked off instead of waiting for him.

This is an Embarrassment to the United States and only helps BRICS more. pic.twitter.com/LkGbq0LU7L

— Joshua Jake (@itzjoshuajake) November 19, 2024

U.S. officials dismissed suggestions that Biden’s absence was an intentional move to avoid being photographed with Russia’s Sergei Lavrov. Russian President Vladimir Putin notably skipped the Rio summit, as he faces an international criminal court arrest warrant related to the Ukraine war.