Hardly A Flattering Photo! Whatever Your Views On The Bloke
I cannot reproduce the image here, and it's likely copyright anyway, but I'll try to describe it as others might recognise it.
The Press Association round-up in my local paper yesterday carried a brief item about Mark Rutte, head of NATO, meeting President Trump in Washington. It was illustrated by a PA photographer, Jacquelyn Martyn. The text was actually about Mr. Rutte's appeal to other European nations to up their defence budgets, not his meeting with Trump.
The two men are perched in arm-chairs side-by-side in front of an ornate fireplace.
Mr. Rutte, on the left, has turned partially to his left, his left elbow resting on the chair arm, fingers spread pensively on his face, which faces the camera but remains rather inscrutable. His right arm is extended, hand open, towards Mr. Trump as if about to shake hands.
Only...
President Trump is sitting facing us, knees apart, hands between them, stretched fingers lightly together. Hunched slightly forwards, he seems not notice his guest, in fact his eyes are closed, his face expressionless. Was he asleep? He looks it.
It is a very odd scene and a bit unkind of the PA to have released that image; but of course we cannot know the time pressure put on the Press by the acolytes / hangers-on.
It did make me imagine a Caption Competition, so if anyone else has seen and recognises the photograph, here are mine:
President Trump (not asleep but thinks) "I really shouldn't have imposed those bigly import tariffs on algaecide."
From the way he holds his arm out - Mark Rutte (sotto voce): It's all right, Mr. Vance. If he falls forwards I'll catch him".
The Press Association round-up in my local paper yesterday carried a brief item about Mark Rutte, head of NATO, meeting President Trump in Washington. It was illustrated by a PA photographer, Jacquelyn Martyn. The text was actually about Mr. Rutte's appeal to other European nations to up their defence budgets, not his meeting with Trump.
The two men are perched in arm-chairs side-by-side in front of an ornate fireplace.
Mr. Rutte, on the left, has turned partially to his left, his left elbow resting on the chair arm, fingers spread pensively on his face, which faces the camera but remains rather inscrutable. His right arm is extended, hand open, towards Mr. Trump as if about to shake hands.
Only...
President Trump is sitting facing us, knees apart, hands between them, stretched fingers lightly together. Hunched slightly forwards, he seems not notice his guest, in fact his eyes are closed, his face expressionless. Was he asleep? He looks it.
It is a very odd scene and a bit unkind of the PA to have released that image; but of course we cannot know the time pressure put on the Press by the acolytes / hangers-on.
It did make me imagine a Caption Competition, so if anyone else has seen and recognises the photograph, here are mine:
President Trump (not asleep but thinks) "I really shouldn't have imposed those bigly import tariffs on algaecide."
From the way he holds his arm out - Mark Rutte (sotto voce): It's all right, Mr. Vance. If he falls forwards I'll catch him".
