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Jun 16, 20261
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Trump Appears Awkward in Bizarre Aerial G7 Photo as Leaders Gather in France
US President Donald Trump appeared awkward in a drone-style aerial photograph of grinning G7 leaders at the summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. The image, shared by French hosts with a cheerful caption, highlighted discussions on major international crises including wars in Iran and Ukraine, regional stability, and nuclear negotiations.
Quick Facts
Who
Donald Trump
What
G7 summit held in Évian-les-Bains
When
June 16, 2026 (publication date)
Where
Évian-les-Bains, France
- G7 summit held in Évian-les-Bains
- Aerial drone-style photograph taken of world leaders
- Photo shared on social media by French hosts
- Working lunch with Egyptian, UAE, and Qatari leaders
- Discussions on Iran nuclear program and ballistic missiles
US President Donald Trump appeared awkward in an unusual drone-style aerial photograph taken at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France this week. The image, shared by French hosts on social media with a cheerful caption reading "Bienvenue à Évian!" (Welcome to Evian!), featured Trump flanked by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside leaders from Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada. The photo also included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa representing the European Union.
The summit brought together G7 leaders to address major international crises, including ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, economic challenges, and artificial intelligence policy. The surreal contrast between the cheerful presentation of the photograph and the heavyweight geopolitical issues under discussion drew commentary from observers. Political correspondent Mike Le Couteur noted that the image appeared to have been taken with a fisheye lens, questioning whether the technique achieved the desired effect.
The second day of the three-day summit featured a working lunch attended by leaders from Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar to discuss ending foreign crises. A key focus was the Strait of Hormuz, with French President Macron proposing a possible Franco-British-led maritime mission and identifying alternative energy routes bypassing the waterway. Trump stated the strait would be "completely open" on Friday, citing a preliminary deal between the US and Iran to end the wider conflict.
European allies expressed concerns about the robustness of potential Iran negotiations, particularly regarding nuclear agreements and ballistic missile programs. France, Britain, and Germany sought greater involvement in upcoming talks after being sidelined in recent months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit to participate in discussions on peacebuilding and security for Ukraine and Europe, with European nations hoping to convince Trump that previous US proposals for ending the Ukraine conflict have been overly favorable to Moscow.
The G7 had previously posed for a similar aerial photograph in 2019 during Trump's first term, though with a markedly different lineup of leaders. Only Trump and Macron remained in their positions between 2019 and 2026, with Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel replaced by their successors.
Why This Matters
This G7 summit reveals critical tensions in Western alliance coordination on geopolitics. Trump's apparent discomfort in the symbolic photo mirrors deeper disagreements over Iran nuclear negotiations, Ukraine peace terms, and Middle Eastern stability. European allies fear Trump may pursue unilateral deals that sideline their security interests. The summit's outcomes on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and Ukraine peacebuilding will directly affect global energy prices, conflict resolution timelines, and US–Europe cohesion heading into potential 2026 negotiations.
Timeline & Sources
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