Angela Merkel’s photo sums up Donald Trump’s G7 summit

IT was always going to be a tense G7 summit. And a photo released by Angela Merkel has captured one of those cringeworthy moments.

OF the hundreds of images taken at the Group of Seven summit in Quebec City this weekend, the one released by the office Angela Merkel appears to sum up Donald Trump’s entire trip.

The image depicts a “spontaneous meeting” featuring the German Chancellor in an assertive pose planting both hands firmly on a table as she addresses an emotionless US President.

Then there’s the seemingly unimpressed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who appears to be well and truly over it as he gazes at the group.

This photo released by Angela Merkel’s office sums up Donald Trump’s time at the G7 summit. Picture: Jesco Denzel/German Federal Government via AP

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un has touched down in Singapore ahead of his historic summit with Trump on Tuesday.

Trump is expected to arrive at 10.30pm AEST.

Kim Jong-un is greeted by Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan at the Changi International Airport. Picture: Ministry of Communications and Information Singapore/AP

Angela Merkel appears uniimpressed as Donald Trump discusses gender equallity with IMF managing director Christine Lagarde during the G7 Summit.

The fascinating image of Trump at the G7 wasn’t the only awkward photo to emerge from the summit.

French President Emmanuel Macron left a firm impression on Trump in their latest hand-squeezing contest of the two alpa males.

Photos that have gone viral show how Macron turned part of Trump’s hand pale with a blood-squeezing grip when they met on the sidelines of the summit.

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands before a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Quebec. Picture: AFP

Macron left a firm impression on Trump in their latest squeezing contest. Picture: AFP

Another picture appears to show the 71-year-old Trump wincing slightly as he struggles to get to grips with his 40-year-old counterpart.

The relationship between the pair has been something of a rollercoaster ride since they first met last year, epitomised by their infamous handshake marathon in Paris during Bastille Day celebrations last July.

Is that a wink from the French president while Trump winces? Picture: AFP

Although Macron was given the honour of the first state visit of the Trump era in April, one of the most enduring images of the trip was when Trump brushed some flecks of dandruff off the Frenchman’s jacket in the White House.

The two men also traded jibes on Twitter in the build-up to the summit in Canada, which has been soured by Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium exports from the European Union.

The pair have a weird history with handshakes. Picture: AFP

Despite their differences, the two men seem at least to enjoy a mutual respect.

“We have a very really good relationship, very special,” Trump told reporters after Friday’s handshake.

Trump, famous for his forceful handshake, has become a victim of Emmanuel Macron. See how the French left his mark on poor Donald's hand. Force is strong with this one. pic.twitter.com/eeEhl2BTj0

— Chungyan Chow (@ChungyanChow) June 9, 2018

Trump is known for his aggressive hand shaking. I think Macron is absolutely right to do it in this case. Remember Trump's alpha male handshake with Japan's Abe? Trump's aim is to dominate everything, including the handshake. Don't let him.

— Mel Myers (@myers_mel) June 9, 2018

Macron figured out the antidote for the trump alpha male handshake

— Hal Levine (@halinchap) June 9, 2018

TENSE TALKS ON TRADE

Trump ended his trip to the G7 summit with a flurry of angry tweets from aboard Air Force One aimed at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who he labelled “dishonest and weak”.

The US President, who is on his way to Singapore for the North Korean summit, warned foreign countries not to retaliate against US tariffs on the imports of steel and aluminium.

“If they retaliate, they’re making a mistake,” Trump warned.

The President also said that he told the Group of Seven leaders that the United States required fair access to markets and an end to unfair trade practices.

PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, “US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he “will not be pushed around.” Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2018

“The United States has been taken advantage of for decades and decades,” Trump told reporters, adding that he did not blame G7 leaders for the “unfair” trade deals.

The trade talks at the G7 summit were always going to be tense. America’s closest allies went into the meeting bracing themselves for a showdown with the president on the subject, as anger at being slapped with the trade tariffs by their most powerful member threatened to split the club.

On top of that, relations had already been soured by the US pullout from an international climate accord and a deal designed to contain Iran’s nuclear program.

Ahead of the meeting, the French President voiced his willingness to cut the US adrift if they could not reach some kind of consensus.

Justin Trudeau said the US justification for the tariffs on national security grounds was “laughable”. Picture: AFP

Trudeau told reporters ahead of the summit hosted in his country that the US justification for the tariffs on national security grounds was “laughable”.

He also said Trump’s action would hurt American workers as well as Canadians.

“If I can get the President to actually realise that what he’s doing is counter-productive for his own goals as well, perhaps we can move forward in a smarter way,” Trudeau said.

This triggered a riposte from the President on Twitter.

“Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the US massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers,” Mr Trump wrote ahead of the meeting on Thursday night.

Trump then blasted Trudeau as “indignant” in another tweet.

Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things...but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2018

Barely 500 days into his presidency and world leaders believe Trump has developed a knack for alienating his counterparts while pursuing his “America First” foreign policy — a pushback against a global trade system which he sees as working against US interests.