US President Donald Trump became the center of attention during the G7 summit after his reaction to a birthday gift from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sparked buzz on social media.
The moment unfolded Tuesday ahead of a working session at the summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where Merz presented Trump with a Germany national soccer team jersey customized with the words “TRUMP 47” on the back.
The exchange went viral after video footage showed what many viewers described as an awkward interaction between the two leaders.
Merz surprises Trump with personalized jersey
Trump, who turned 80 on Sunday during the summit, was approached by Merz while cameras were rolling before the leaders’ meeting began.
Holding up the jersey, Merz reportedly asked Trump, “Do you know what that is?” before revealing the customized name and number printed on the back of the shirt.
Video from the exchange showed Trump briefly shaking the German leader’s hand before appearing to turn away. Merz then seemed to re-engage him by saying, “So, this is yours,” while handing over the gift.
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Trump later called Merz back to pose for photographs as he held the jersey for cameras. After a brief silence during the photo opportunity, Trump responded, “That’s great,” before folding the shirt beside him.
Social media reacts to ‘awkward’ moment
Clips of the interaction spread across social media platforms, with many users debating Trump’s body language and reaction.
Some users described the moment as uncomfortable, while others joked that the exchange looked staged for cameras. Several online comments also mocked the apparent silence during the photo session, with one user writing that “everyone looks embarrassed.”
Others suggested Trump appeared unimpressed by the gift despite eventually posing with the jersey.
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G7 summit
The viral exchange came amid diplomatic tensions at the G7 summit, where leaders have been discussing Ukraine, Iran, global security and economic issues.
According to The Mirror US, Trump has recently clashed with several European leaders, including Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, over international policy matters.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Trump struck an optimistic tone during meetings at the summit, telling reporters he believed “a lot of great things are going to happen in the Middle East right now.”