At his final summit as U.S. President, Joe Biden managed to stumble on the world stage once more. His mistake was, believe it or not, missing his own photo moment with other G20 global dignitaries in the grand city of Rio de Janeiro. Faulty logistics was chalked up as the excuse by American representatives for this embarrassing gaffe, as Biden and the prime ministers of Canada and Italy were conspicuously missing from the image.
This episode unfolded amidst Biden’s South American tour, which initially was assumed to be a chance for counterparts to bid him farewell. Instead, the focus seemed to pivot sharply towards his presumptive successor, Donald Trump. Staggeringly, even on an international platform, Biden’s presence felt diminished and sidelined by the looming shadow of Trump.
The soon-to-be ex-president, Biden, in the twilight of his career, thought he would consolidate his legacy on this world stage. But the looming prospect of Trump reenters the White House with his robust ‘America First’ diplomacy approach threatens Biden’snascent legacy.
Several influential world leaders, such as China’s President Xi Jinping, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron, walked in unison down a red-carpeted ramp. Their destination, a stage set against the exquisite backdrop of Rio’s Museum of Modern Art and the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain.
These powerful figures gathered on the world stage, sharing in their camaraderie, chatting, and even jesting among themselves. In no time at all, they posed for the camera, capturing a moment that symbolized their collective power and unity. But where was Biden? Where was the representation of the USA in this moment?
Biden and Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, finally appeared, but they found an empty stage awaiting their tardy arrival. Their belated presence was due to a side meeting they contrived, and their late dash to the photoshoot was in vain. The illustrious gathering had scattered, leaving the two leaders alone on the world’s stage — a fitting metaphor, perhaps?
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, also found herself left out of the photo op. This miscommunication seemed to represent something larger, an echo of Biden’s fragmented, disrupted tenure on the global stage. Meloni, Biden, and Trudeau then formed their own isolated group, a sidelined congregation of G20’s tardy members.
The quick timing and hastily taken photo, according to a U.S. official, were due to unexpected logistical issues that arose before all leaders had made their appearance. Unconvincingly, it seemed like a poor excuse for this fiasco. In an age of instant communication and technology, could three prominent leaders actually be kept out of the loop?
It’s interesting to note that there was a quick attempt to deny that Biden’s absence from the photo moment was purposeful. Official U.S. statements tossed aside speculation that Biden intentionally missed the photo op to sidestep sharing the stage with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
Earlier in the day, Biden was observed imploring the assembled G20 global leaders to firmly back Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of an imminent 2022 invasion by Russia. It’s curious that protecting Ukraine seemed to have superseded being represented in a collective global show of unity — priorities, right?
However, one standout absentee was Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin. His conspicuous absence stoked some speculation, particularly given the sought arrest from the International Criminal Court related to the Ukraine war. It was noteworthy, but the mismanagement exhibited by Biden’s team stole the limelight.