A curious scene unfolded at the G20 summit as President Biden's unexpected absence from a crucial group photograph drew attention from international observers.
According to the New York Post, the 81-year-old U.S. President was spotted behind a palm tree while other world leaders gathered for the traditional "family picture" at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The incident generated significant buzz, particularly due to speculation that Biden might have wanted to avoid being photographed alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov amid ongoing tensions over the Ukraine war.
The White House later attributed the mishap to "logistical issues," noting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also missed the photo opportunity.
A senior U.S. official attempted to downplay the situation, explaining that organizers proceeded with the photo session earlier than scheduled. The timing issue resulted in several leaders, including Biden and Trudeau, arriving moments after the photograph had already been taken.
The confusion became apparent when an American journalist was heard on the pooled video feed expressing surprise at the premature photo session. The reporter's remarks captured the awkward moment perfectly.
An unidentified reporter could be heard saying:
Oh my God… they took it! Yup, he's right there … he's behind the palm tree right now!
The G20 photo incident followed another potentially uncomfortable situation at the APEC conference in Lima, Peru, where Biden was positioned in the back corner of the group photo. This placement contrasted sharply with Chinese President Xi Jinping's prominent front-and-center position alongside the host country's president.
The White House defended Biden's APEC photo placement, stating it was determined by alphabetical order. However, this explanation raised eyebrows when compared to former President Donald Trump's central positioning in similar APEC photos from 2017 in Vietnam.
During his Peru visit, Biden encountered additional challenges involving protocol and optics with Chinese President Xi. The American president had to travel to Xi's hotel for bilateral meetings, while Xi received an elaborate welcome and inaugurated a major China-funded port project.
The series of photo-related incidents has gained particular significance as Biden maintains limited press engagement. The president has not taken questions from the media since the November 5 election, where Vice President Kamala Harris was defeated by former President Donald Trump.
These visual diplomatic challenges occur during a critical transition period, with Trump set to assume office on January 20. The situation has prompted journalists to resort to creative measures, including holding up placards with questions about Ukraine and Xi in attempts to engage with the outgoing president.
The White House continues to manage these diplomatic appearances while balancing complex international relationships. The administration's handling of these protocol matters reflects the delicate nature of international diplomacy during leadership transitions.
