For world leaders and diplomats at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, US President-elect Donald Trump was the man whose name cannot be unsaid.
Almost no one will directly mention the next White House official, even if the question of his imminent return to power looms over the meeting.
Instead leaders will talk in coded terms about “the next administration,” “turmoil” and “change.”
But it was clear what he meant, even if he was trying to avoid conflict with the man who will be on the job in the Oval Office starting Jan. 20.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who worked hard to win over Trump during the American’s first term, made veiled comments about tariffs and climate at the summit.
“Any fragmentation or fracturing of the international system by tariff policies, carried out by the strongest, leads all others not to respect it,” Macron said, without naming Trump.
Trump has promised to impose sweeping tariffs on imports into the United States, including tariffs of up to 60 percent on goods coming from Europe and China.
Macron also cited “delicate” climate policies, with Trump threatening to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global warming.
to wander
This was what happened whenever the leaders spoke, as they treated Trump like Voldemort, the villain from the Harry Potter movies and books, whose name the heroes cannot mention.
UN chief Antonio Guterres ignored any mention of Trump while talking about the “very important” US role on climate and said he had “deep confidence” that the US would “lead the way on climate action.”
Trump’s face could only be seen on placards carried by protesters outside the summit site — and on the social media feeds of Argentina’s right-wing, Trump-supporting president.
Javier Miley reposted a meme contrasting a photo of him meeting a smiling Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort after the election, with another photo of Miley posing with a grim-faced Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Officials behind the scenes were alert.
A European diplomat said the continent had “worked with them before” and would do so again.
decisions
US officials repeatedly stressed that Trump’s name did not come up, or even be a major consideration, in outgoing President Joe Biden’s final meetings with his counterparts.
“I don’t think we’re expecting any major change in how other countries view the world or how they view their relationships with us,” Deputy National Security Adviser John Finer told reporters.
“They will make these decisions based on their interests in January.”
Perhaps this was partly in honor of Biden, bringing his swan song to the international stage.
Biden himself sidestepped the issue – indeed he has long resisted mentioning the name of the man he often calls “my predecessor,” who is now his successor.
Biden, 81, tried to shore up his legacy while his fellow summitteers looked over his shoulder.
As Biden remarked that this was his final summit, he called on the leaders to “keep going – and I’m sure you will, whether I urge you or not.”
On the final day, Biden realized that the return of the man who cannot be named was imminent.
“I have a lot more to say,” Biden said, stopping himself, “I’m not going to say.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
