Staff Reports
Biden managed to pull off an impressive disappearing act at the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro—a maneuver that would make any magician proud. As the world leaders gathered for their snapshot moment in the sun, President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a casual stroll, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they had just missed the world’s most important group photo. Talk about a timing blunder!
U.S. officials scrambled to make sense of the whole debacle, attributing it to “logistical issues.” It’s hard not to wonder whose logistics they’re following, as Xi Jinping enjoyed a prime front-row position while Biden was stuck in the metaphorical back alleys of international diplomacy. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Minister was relegated to the shadows, reminding everyone of the classic saying: out of sight, out of mind.
One might think that after nearly two years of practice on the world stage, the team in charge of Biden’s presence would have figured out that it’s essential to be on time for group photos—especially when all eyes are on the United States. Instead, Biden and Trudeau arrived fashionably late, looking as if they were the only ones who didn’t get the memo about the photo op. The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, also chose not to join the fun, leaving the stage wide open for the likes of Xi to bask in the limelight and show off his power pose.
Photo-shoot fail: Biden misses traditional photo with world leaders at G20https://t.co/vT4wCBaGKL pic.twitter.com/mGchfie5Jl
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 19, 2024
It could be said that the photo op fail was symbolic of the Biden administration’s larger issues—poor planning, missed opportunities, and the uncanny ability to let rivals seize the spotlight. Perhaps it’s a good thing they missed that picture, as it too closely mirrored Biden’s presidency: a lot of standing around while others actually take the lead.
As the sun set on Biden’s final G20 summit, one thing stood clear: optics matter, and right now, American leadership is looking a bit blurry. In a world where the stakes are continuously rising, it seems the Biden administration is caught in a game of catch-up, a reminder that when it comes to international relations, being on time is as vital as the agenda itself.
