Staff Reports
A striking scene unfolded at the recent G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro that could easily be mistaken for a slapstick comedy routine. U.S. President Joe Biden, the star of the show, managed to miss the headline act: the iconic group photo of global leaders. In what could only be described as a spectacle worthy of late-night television, Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived too tardy to join their international counterparts, albeit it left viewers wondering if anyone had raised the “Where’s Biden?” banner.
While the others were busy flashing their smiles for the camera, Biden was caught behind a palm tree, seemingly confused and out of sync with the little gathering—rather like the last kid chosen for dodgeball. Earlier timings in the photo shoot meant that the U.S. President had no chance to pose, leaving impressive figures like Chinese President Xi Jinping taking the spotlight instead. It appears missed social events are now just another thing the Biden administration can add to their list of foreign affairs blunders.
BIG NEWS 🚨 G20 leaders take group photo without Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden.
No body waited for them 😂🔥
MASSIVE embarrassment for Trudeau!!Indian Prime Minister and World leader Narendra Modi was in the front row for Group Photo ♥️
Joe Biden has lost the election while… pic.twitter.com/qfHSc62tWi
— Times Algebra (@TimesAlgebraIND) November 19, 2024
A senior official from Biden’s camp pointed to “logistical issues” as the reason their boss was sidelined during this critical photo op. Isn’t it amusing how a top-tier global event could not get the basics right? Rumor has it that the term “logistical issues” may soon be entering the dictionary as a synonym for “missed opportunities”—likely alongside pictures of Biden himself, looking bewildered amidst a tropical backdrop.
Meanwhile, as the G20 focused on addressing burning issues like climate change and global poverty, Biden was evidently left to ponder where he had gone wrong on timing, or perhaps even how he gets wrapped around such minor details. The world leaders, mingling without him, missed their chance to showcase unity in numbers, and instead, Biden’s absence inadvertently elevated figures like Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who awkwardly took a place at the back row while looking as pleased as ever.
The 2024 G20 Summit hosted in Brazil could go down in history not just for discussions on pressing global matters, but also for this unusual episode, with Biden’s absence serving as a hallmark for an administration that frequently juggles confusion with foreign diplomacy. As for the world leaders now captured in pixels together, they might just be thanking their lucky stars that Biden was working from the sidelines—because sometimes, fewer players on the field can mean less chaos. The spectacle of Biden behind a palm tree will surely be immortalized as one of the more ridiculous moments in G20 history, reminding any observer of the political circus unfolding not just onstage, but in the halls of power as well.
