German Chancellor Angela Merkel successfully convinced her fellow leaders to support a unified communique at a meeting in Hamburg, focusing on trade, finance, energy, and Africa. However, there was a noticeable divide between President Trump, who prioritizes "America First", and the other 19 members of the group. Merkel expressed disappointment in the US's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, stating that negotiations on climate and trade were challenging due to the US's specific positions. The summit in Hamburg was marked by violent protests, resulting in burning cars and broken shop windows. It brought together a mix of leaders during a time of significant changes in global politics. Trump's new approach to diplomacy has created uncertainty among traditional allies in Europe and allowed China to play a larger role on the world stage. Tensions between the US and China were a major focus leading up to the meeting, with Trump pressuring President Xi Jinping on North Korea and trade issues. Trump's first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was highly anticipated, but overshadowed by allegations of Russian interference in the US election and investigations into Trump's ties to Russia. Putin stated that Trump questioned him on the election meddling during a lengthy meeting, but appeared to accept Putin's denials. Trump previously accused Russia of causing instability in Ukraine and Syria, but at the summit in Hamburg, he took a more conciliatory approach. He expressed his pleasure at meeting Putin and indicated, through Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, that he wanted to focus on future relationships rather than dwelling on the past. Tillerson described the meeting as very important, noting a positive chemistry between Trump and Putin. The final communique acknowledged the US's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord as irreversible, but the US added a controversial statement about working with other countries to improve their use of fossil fuels. French President Emmanuel Macron took the lead in trying to make the language of the United States more moderate. Thomas Bernes, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, noted that there is a strong consensus without the United States, but their absence poses a problem due to their status as the largest economy in the world. Jennifer Morgan, executive director at Greenpeace, praised the G19 for standing firm against Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The leaders agreed to oppose protectionism and unfair trade practices, as well as to acknowledge the use of legitimate trade defense measures. They also committed to collaborating on economic development in Africa, a key focus for Merkel. The summit, hosted by Merkel in her birth city of Hamburg, aimed to demonstrate Germany's openness and tolerance of peaceful protests. The event took place near the "Rote Flora," a symbol of left-wing resistance in Germany, where violent protests, including looting and arson, occurred over the three days of the summit. Over 200 police officers were harmed, with 143 individuals arrested and 122 placed in custody. The most severe destruction occurred during a concert and extravagant dinner hosted by Merkel at the Elbphilharmonie, a contemporary glass concert hall with views of the Elbe River. Following the summit, Merkel expressed gratitude to the police and security forces, denouncing the "unrestrained brutality" of certain protestors. However, she faced challenging inquiries about choosing Hamburg as the summit location during her concluding press briefing.