Trump's 'awkward family photo' at G20

  • 08/07/2017
Donald Trump at G20
The photo, which caught a moment when Mr Trump was by himself, encapsulates the tension between world leaders on issues like climate change. Photo credit: Getty

A group photo of world leaders taken at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, has illustrated tensions on the issues being discussed.

US President Donald Trump, positioned on the outskirts of the group, looked noticeably displeased and isolated in the photograph.

Group photos at summits like G20 are thought to be highly political in nature, but the protocol is that the longest-serving leaders stand closer to the centre, and new additions like Mr Trump stand further out.

But while positioning might be a formality, the tone has been taut within the group due to Mr Trump's viewpoints on trade and environment, and big shifts in the geopolitical landscape.

World leaders have increased pressure on Mr Trump to compromise on climate and trade, and a draft statement showed the G20 leaders have isolated Trump on climate change by backing the Paris climate change agreement.

Earlier this year Mr Trump pulled the US out of the agreement and championed an 'America first' economic policy, while criticising Germany and China for taking advantage of the US.

Mr Trump's policies have further united Europe and China.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said G20 leaders would urge Trump to reconsider his decision on Paris. 

"We are not renegotiating the Paris agreement, that stays, but I want to see the US looking for ways to rejoin it," she told the BBC.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Paris agreement on climate change "was an important consensus that doesn't come easily and must not be given up easily".

Trump and Macron at g20
French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S President Donald Trump at the G20 summit. Topics high on the agenda include climate policy and development programs for African economies. Photo credit: Getty

The summit unites Mr Trump and Mr Jinping at a time when Washington is urging Beijing to rein in North Korea, and is threatening the Chinese with retaliated trade restrictions.

The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, holds the task of governing leaders towards a united consensus on trade, climate and migration - all issues that have become more contentious since Trump took office.

However the summit has already been met with a night of clashes between police and anti-capitalist protestors who took to the streets to block roads and bridges leading to the summit venue.

Protestors smashed windows, set cars on fire and attacked a police helicopter.

Police sent reinforcements to Hamburg after 160 officers were injured and 70 people were arrested.

Ms Merkel called the protests "unacceptable".

Reuters / Newshub.