Biden’s Absence from G-20 Family Photo Raises Eyebrows

In a moment that has drawn attention, President Joe Biden was notably absent from the traditional “family photo” of world leaders at the final G-20 summit of his presidency, held on Monday in Rio de Janeiro. The image, considered a staple of international summits, showcased many of the leaders gathered but did not include Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who arrived late.

Logistical Issues Cited by Officials

According to a senior official within the Biden administration, the president’s absence was exclusively due to “logistical issues”. “Due to logistical issues, they took the family photo early before all the leaders had arrived. So a number of leaders weren’t actually there when they took the photo,” the official explained, attempting to clarify the situation amidst growing speculation about the implications of the President’s late arrival.

The official emphasized that the timing of Biden’s arrival was the primary reason for his absence from the photo, not a deliberate choice to distance himself from other leaders such as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov or Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Jinping Takes Center Stage

As a result of Biden’s absence from the photo, Xi Jinping found himself prominently placed among the assembled leaders, amidst a backdrop of blue skies and ocean. Meanwhile, Lavrov’s presence was relegated to the back row of the group, reducing his visibility significantly in the pivotal image.

Arrival Details and Security Concerns

Interestingly, Biden and Trudeau were seen arriving at the designated photo spot, appearing to look for the location of the group photo. However, the two leaders missed the official picture amidst the confusion. Another key detail was Biden’s choice not to use the red-carpet ramp typically employed by world leaders. Instead, footage captured the President making a sharp turn on his way to the gathering.

The official indicated that Biden avoided the ramp “due to security concerns”, highlighting the heightened sensitivity related to several leaders who face security threats. “Several leaders from high threat — from countries that face high threats did not take the open ramp and instead took a different red carpet route,” the official stated.

Addressing Global Issues at the G-20 Summit

The G-20 summit, representing the world’s largest economies, serves as a platform for leaders to discuss critical global issues, including efforts to combat hunger and poverty. In his remarks during the summit, Biden urged world leaders to make increased investments in the World Bank, provide debt relief to struggling nations, and work to resolve ongoing conflicts that contribute to starvation, notably referencing the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Implications and Reactions

Biden’s absence from the photo has raised questions about the nuances of international diplomacy and the image a leader portrays on such a global stage. Some analysts posit that the late arrival and resultant absence may have unintended diplomatic repercussions, signaling issues of coordination and timing among world leaders. The optics of world leaders standing together while the United States is represented by a missing president could potentially evoke interpretations relating to the geopolitical climate.

Besides internal logistics, the summit also faced external pressures. Notably, Biden has been recently scrutinized by political opponents, with some allies of former President Trump warning that Biden’s authorization of long-range missile support for Ukraine risks escalating tensions to the brink of a global conflict. Click here for more on this topic.

Also discussed during the summit were ongoing situations involving leaders from countries facing internal strife and humanitarian crises, exemplified by the jailing of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. Learn more about these activists here.

Final Thoughts

With international relations becoming increasingly complex, Biden’s absence from the G-20 family photo serves as a reminder of the delicate balance leaders must maintain in navigating diplomacy. The incident raises important questions about timing, visibility, and representation at such critical global gatherings, particularly for a president in the spotlight during his final G-20 summit as sitting president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.