Spot the difference! Angela Merkel welcomes G20 leaders - with VERY different reactions
ANGELA Merkel did little to hide her true feelings as she greeted the world's most powerful leaders ahead of the opening of the 2017 G20 Summit yesterday morning.
Angela Merkel welcomes Donald Trump at the G20 summit
The German Chancellor took time to welcome 19 world leaders to the summit, which is being hosted by Germany and held in the city of Hamburg.
But the manner in which Mrs Merkel welcomed the dignitaries raised eye-brows yesterday, with tense stand-offs with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan turning heads.
Contrastingly, the German leader was all smiles for fellow lefties Justin Trudeau, Jean-Claude Juncker and Emmanuel Macron.
Angela Merkel meeting world leaders at first day of G20 summit in Hamburg this morning
Mr Trump's photo-op with Mrs Merkel was particularly terse given the animosity between the pair, with the leaders exchanging a brief handshake before the US president abruptly left the stage.
G20 Live: Keep up with all the latest from the Summit in Hamburg here
Mrs Merkel's greeting with Mr Erdogan was even more bizarre, with the authoritarian Turkish leader appearing to cover her face with his palm before the customary brief handshake.
And Mr Putin also received the Mrs Merkel treatment, as the pair exchanged stern looks before breaking into a rueful chuckle.
May and Hammond arrive in Germany for G20 summit
On the other hand Mrs Merkel was visibly delighted to greet her fellow Europhiles, exchanging kisses and cuddles with French president Mr Macron, Canadian prime minister Mr Trudeau and president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May, meanwhile, was a picture of confidence as she strutted across the stage to greet Mrs Merkel, before the pair exchanged a polite handshake.
Donald Trump and Angela Merkel shared a tense meeting this morning
The leaders are meeting for two days of talks this week in Hamburg, which has already been hit by two nights of huge protests.
Mrs Merkel and Mr Erdogan exchanged a bizarre greeting at the G20 Summit
Talks are set to be focussed on climate change, the growing threat of North Korea, trade and the migrant crisis.
It will also mark the first time Mr Trump will meet Mr Putin since his election as US president - a controversial moment given the ongoing accusations of Russian interference in the vote.