A photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders standing over a cross-armed United States President Donald Trump at Friday’s G7 summit has been given the meme treatment on social media.
The photo, snapped by German government photographer Jesco Denzel, went viral after Merkel’s spokesperson Steffen Seibert tweeted the picture with the caption: “Second day of the #G7 Summit in Canada: deliberations on the fringes of the official agenda #G7Charlevoix”
Zweiter Tag des #G7-Gipfels in Kanada: Beratungen am Rande der offiziellen Tagesordnung #G7Charlevoix pic.twitter.com/5GiGF6zTHr
— Steffen Seibert (@RegSprecher) June 9, 2018
Though other leaders had their own images of the meeting tweeted out, Denzel’s photograph — which shows Merkel standing dominantly over a petulant-looking Trump — became the most enduring after it caught the imagination of the web.
“No, your friend Vlad can’t come to the sleepover. We don’t care what you promised him.
You should have discussed it with a grown-up first.” #G7Summit pic.twitter.com/zQ9XdAYRIc— Richard Hine (@richardhine) June 9, 2018
To whomever did this G7 photo-edit – bravo! pic.twitter.com/Bi1lo2kcll
— Mark Kermode (@KermodeMovie) June 10, 2018
When Art History comes for you. pic.twitter.com/kCeq9nLqiy
— Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) June 10, 2018
Six and a Half Men #G7 #G7Summit pic.twitter.com/iqhOXOlarq
— Richard Gutjahr (@gutjahr) June 10, 2018
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 9, 2018
The calamitous summit ended in disarray after Trump broadsided his allies by disavowing a joint statement the US had agreed to.
The joint statement says the leaders of the US, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, and Canada “acknowledge free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade is a key engine for growth and jobs”, and commits the G7 to modernise the World Trade Organisation. It also says the countries will work to promote low or no tariffs in order to promote trade between them.
READ MORE: Trump sours agreement at G7 on climate change, refugee crisis
Canada’s Justin Trudeau and other leaders had given closing press conferences and announced a US-backed joint statement. Shortly after that statement was published online, Trump complained about comments made by Trudeau and revoked his support.
“I have instructed our US Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the US Market!” Trump tweeted Saturday evening, saying he was responding to the Canadian leader, who he called dishonest and weak.
Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2018
PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, “US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he “will not be pushed around.” Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2018