Biden misses G-20 family photo, White House blames ‘logistical’ issues

President Biden was not pictured among other world leaders in the traditional “family photo” at the final Group of 20 summit of his presidency on Monday.

Biden arrived along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after photographers had already finished with the other smiling leaders, who had been positioned on a riser. A senior Biden official said the president did not participate because of “logistical issues.” 

“Due to logistical issues, they took the family photo early before all the leaders had arrived. So a number of leaders weren’t actually there when they took the photo,” the official said. 

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President Biden, left, and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrive late for a group photo during the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

The official emphasized Biden missed the photo because of bad timing, not because he wanted to avoid taking a picture with some of the U.S.’ top rivals, including Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov or Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Biden’s absence left Jinping front and center among the rows of leaders poised against blue skies and blue water in Rio de Janeiro.

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Leaders attending the G-20 Summit pose for a group photo in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Lavrov stood in the back row, less visible.

Biden and Trudeau arrived together at the designated spot for the photo, standing and looking about for a time. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also did not join in the group photo, a set piece of such summits.

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Backdropped by Sugar Loaf mountain, leaders attending the G-20 Summit pose for a group photo in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Notably, Biden did not arrive via the red carpet ramp used by other world leaders. Instead, he was seen taking a sharp right turn on his way to the gathering, declining to use the ramp which led to the entrance of the building. 

The official said the president did not use the ramp “due to security concerns.” 

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China’s President Xi Jinping talks after joining a group photo during the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

“Several leaders from high threat — from countries that face high threats did not take the open ramp and instead took a different red carpet route,” the official said. 

The G-20 summit is a gathering of leaders from the world’s largest economies, who meet to discuss efforts to combat hunger and poverty. In remarks at the summit Monday, Biden called on those present to increase investments in the World Bank, provide debt relief to struggling countries and end conflicts around the world that have contributed to starvation, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.