Joe Biden slammed over 'embarrassing’ APEC pic of him pushed to back row as Xi Jinping takes center stage

LIMA, PERU: President Joe Biden was subjected to ridicule over social media after he was relegated to the back corner of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference’s annual family photo in Peru on Saturday, November 15, reported the New York Post.

Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoyed a front-and-center position in the same photograph, flanked by the hosting President Dina Boluarte.

Critics believe Biden's position in the photograph shows the diminishing importance of the United States on the international stage under his leadership. However, the White House maintained that Biden was not snubbed but several leaders took positions out of order.

The order of world leaders in APEC family photographs

World leaders are supposed to be positioned in alphabetical order by country, according to the New York Post, but past photographs have shown that the positions are not fixed.

During the first term of Donald Trump, he took the center spot in two group photos, one in the front row and the other in the back, in 2017.

This time, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Papua New Guinea’s Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso stood out of order, taking the center position in the back row. Among those standing in the front were Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.

White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett cited the placement of former President George W Bush and Barack Obama to defend Biden's position, saying, "It is the same assigned order APEC used in both 2008 and 2016. This year, a few leaders stood out of order due to protocol errors but President Biden stood correctly in the United States’ assigned spot.”

Republican lawmakers call Biden 'lame duck'

Speaking with the New York Post on the subject, Rep Claudia Tenney (R-NY) claimed that the incumbent's position in the photograph showed that the world’s leaders don’t take him “seriously anymore ever since Nancy Pelosi threw him out.”

“They probably should have invited President-elect (Donald) Trump down. I’m sure he would’ve been in the center of the photo with Xi Jinping,” she added.

"There are lame ducks and then there are the lamest of lame ducks. Biden has been a lame duck since he was elected," quipped her colleague Jeff Van Drew (R-New Jersey). "This photo is a metaphor for his presidency. A picture is worth a thousand words — and this picture says it all.”

Rep Mike Lawler (R-NY) chimed in stating, "It’s an embarrassment to our country — under Joe Biden, America is weaker, our enemies emboldened, and the world less peaceful. January 20 can’t come fast enough.”

Internet trolls Joe Biden over APEC family photo

Netizens reacting to the photograph on the social media platform X trolled Biden as an "embarrassment." The following tweets demonstrate their takes.

"Biden standing in the back row at APEC - finally a photo op that matches his leadership style: out of focus and in the background," wrote a user.

"HOW EMBARRASSING for the country. Biden, and in essence the USA, placed in back row for photo of the participants at the APEC Economic Summit. And he ain’t too happy about it…neither are we Joe. YOU have dragged the US down in world standing…but that is about to be remedied January 2025. Trump will stand for America and he will assure the country is once again…GREAT! The whole world is looking forward to his Presidency…and the end of yours," ranted another.

"This is embarrassing. At least Joe's hotel has HBO and air conditioning," mocked a third.

"The Democrat staff that didn’t object to this should be dumped immediately They clearly hate America - good riddance!" slammed a fourth.

"This is how the World views (USA) now! @JoeBiden was put in the corner! Look who’s in the middle! Embarrassing," jibed a fifth.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online