Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
US president Donald Trump faces off with German chancellor Angela Merkel at the G7 Summit
US president Donald Trump faces off with German chancellor Angela Merkel in a photo taken at the G7 summit. Photograph: Jesco Denzel/AFP/Getty Images
US president Donald Trump faces off with German chancellor Angela Merkel in a photo taken at the G7 summit. Photograph: Jesco Denzel/AFP/Getty Images

Trump G7 photo becomes internet classic, going from baroque to ridiculous

This article is more than 5 years old

Viral picture of Angela Merkel standing over Donald Trump gets the meme treatment

A viral photo of Angela Merkel and other world leaders standing over a seated Donald Trump at Friday’s G7 summit has been given the meme treatment on social media, with Twitter users quick to liken the image to everything from renaissance art to a scene from the Apprentice.

The G7 summit, which brought together world leaders from Germany, Japan, Canada, the US, Italy, France and the UK, was held in Charlevoix, Quebec, in Canada, over the weekend. This year’s summit had a particular focus on trade.

However, the enduring image from the summit was one in which divisions between the group were clear. The German chancellor’s office posted the striking picture to Instagram on Saturday with the caption: “Day two of the G7 summit in Canada: spontaneous meeting between two working sessions.”

The photograph, which was taken by the German cabinet’s official photographer Jesco Denze, was quickly singled out for its uncanny resemblance to a classical painting.

When Art History comes for you. pic.twitter.com/kCeq9nLqiy

— Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) June 10, 2018

Done. pic.twitter.com/FB91VGy37L

— ⭐J.B.⭐️ (@jillybird42) June 9, 2018

pic.twitter.com/VXE9A7DDla

— Tweets From A Dork (@TweetsFromADork) June 9, 2018

Ok, because I'm feeling pedantic as fuck, I need to point out that this photo does not look like a Renaissance painting. It looks like a Baroque painting. pic.twitter.com/LvlvcSZjmu

— The internet proudly presents: Palle Hoffstein (@Palle_Hoffstein) June 10, 2018

Some Twitter users alluded to the overshadowing tensions between the two world leaders. After Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and recent tariffs on trade, the summit had been renamed by many journalists as the ‘G6 plus one’.

Today, as on many days, I would pay hard cash for access to Angela Merkel’s inner monologue. https://t.co/I3w4oOruyT

— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) June 9, 2018

G7 Summit pic.twitter.com/HAiFItZn0q

— Professional Heckler (@HecklerForever) June 10, 2018

To whomever did this G7 photo-edit - bravo! pic.twitter.com/Bi1lo2kcll

— Mark Kermode (@KermodeMovie) June 10, 2018

“Just tell us what Vladimir has on you. Maybe we can help.” pic.twitter.com/DLc7YJFXqT

— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) June 10, 2018

Anyone is having a better weekend than Angela Merkel right now. #G7Summit pic.twitter.com/K9QmWxHxaP

— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 9, 2018


While others just jumped at the chance to have a little fun.

This looks like an episode of Celebrity Apprentice where Trump is about to fire Angela Merkel because her strudel marketing plan fell through. pic.twitter.com/ZLYlaDrNts

— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 10, 2018

pic.twitter.com/zNEw13pjku

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 9, 2018

Leader of the free world meets president of the United States https://t.co/q65rYOoDuE

— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) June 9, 2018

After a calamitous G7 summit, Donald Trump has arrived in Singapore ahead of his historic meeting with Kim Jong-un. The pair plan to discuss the fate of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

More on this story

More on this story

  • Q&A: how damaging was Donald Trump’s G7 blow-up?

  • Theresa May says G7 summit with Donald Trump was 'difficult'

  • Trudeau 'stabbed us in back' on trade, says Trump chief economic adviser

  • G7 summit: a weekend of international diplomacy - in pictures

  • Merkel's G7 photo says everything about Trump's diplomacy – or does it?

  • Trump's trade tirade casts Canada in unfamiliar role of America's bad guy

  • G7 in disarray after Trump rejects communique and attacks 'weak' Trudeau

  • Justin Trudeau's G7 comments that angered Donald Trump – video

Most viewed

Most viewed