After Trump forced Mexico and Canada to negotiate a new trade deal, the three heads of state met at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires today (Nov. 30) to formally sign it. One perfectly timed photo captured the tension of the meeting.
At a moment that called for unity, Trump put “America first,” true to form. While outgoing Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau signed their respective copies of the deal with pens, Trump grabbed a thick black marker, his favored writing implement.
The result was clear when Trump held up the signed agreement, a trademark move that has lent itself to memes. Photos from the event show Trump proudly showing off the new version of NAFTA, one of few campaign promises that he has fulfilled. The only clearly visible part of it his own name.
The US president’s giant black signature is smack dab in middle of the paper. The lighter signatures from his counterparts are barely visible—yet another little power move from Trump, alongside his overlong handshakes and extra scoops of ice cream.
Peña Nieto mirrored Trump’s gesture, but appeared distracted in the above photo by Trudeau, who merely looks at him.
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