Staff ReportsPresident Joe Biden continues to demonstrate a remarkable talent for taking a backseat—even when he’s supposed to be in charge. Emerging from months of limited visibility, he made quite the entrance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Lima, Peru, but not in the way anyone could have expected. Instead of grabbing the spotlight, Biden found himself shoved to the back row for the obligatory “family” photo, reminding everyone that leadership has its price.
In stark contrast to last year, when Biden stood front and center in San Francisco, flanked by the likes of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China’s Xi Jinping, this year’s event was a different story. Photographers positioned Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and Xi right up front, leaving the United States president struggling to be seen like a kid trying to catch a glimpse over the birthday cake at a crowded party. This snub elicited ridicule from social media, a hotbed for those quick to point out the Biden administration’s latest faux pas.
Biden was notably positioned in the farthest (and dustiest) corner of the family photo at the APEC summit in Lima, Peru. Well, that was a right decision – it's time for the power center to shift away from the US pic.twitter.com/WhJ0uSrXxj
— RT (@RT_com) November 17, 2024
What explains this apparent demotion on the global stage? While Biden did manage to meet with several world leaders, including Boluarte and Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba, the optics could only be described as disastrous for a leader accustomed to posh placements. For many, it serves as a clear illustration of how the world perceives Biden: a leader who has become less relevant, especially after a prolonged absence from visible leadership.
Social media users took particular pleasure in drawing comparisons between Biden’s performance and that of former President Donald Trump. The stark difference left many wondering if America’s standing in the world had truly sunk so low that even positioning in a group photo had to be factored into diplomatic respect. A few on X—a site that has become a platform for righteous indignation—pointed out that many world leaders respect strength. In their view, trying to negotiate with Global Joe was akin to bringing a spoon to a knife fight.
One can only imagine the scene had Trump been in Biden’s shoes—there’s a good chance he’d still be at the front. Positioned next to leaders like Vladimir Putin in his own APEC family photo of yesteryear, it’s hard to picture Trump quietly accepting a back-row role. Instead, he would likely have demanded a re-photograph, grouped his supporters in protest, or made a bold declaration that he wasn’t going anywhere until the cameras were right.
In the end, Biden’s back-row placement serves as the latest reminder that appearances matter in the world of politics, where even a simple photograph can reveal who’s really in charge. And for the United States, it appears that, under this administration, being visible is becoming increasingly difficult.
