During the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, President Biden found himself in an unusual position at the family photo session, standing in the back corner while other world leaders took center stage. Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte were prominently placed in the front-center of the photo, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the front row as well.
Despite his positioning in the photo, President Biden appeared to be in good spirits, engaging in friendly conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Throughout the summit, Biden held closed-door meetings with various leaders, including Boluarte and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
This year's photo arrangement marked a departure from the usual placement of American leaders, as Biden, who is set to leave office in January, was not in the center as he was in the previous year's APEC family photo. In contrast, former President Trump was front and center in the 2017 APEC photo, alongside Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
The APEC summit took place just weeks after the 2024 presidential election, where Vice President Harris lost to Trump in a surprising upset. Biden and Trump met to discuss the transition process, with Biden expressing his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition of power. Trump reciprocated the sentiment, acknowledging the importance of a seamless transition.
