German Chancellor Angela Merkel successfully convinced her fellow leaders at the meeting in Hamburg to support a single communique with pledges on trade, finance, energy, and Africa, showcasing her skills as a mediator before the upcoming German election. However, there was a clear divide between President Trump, who prioritizes "America First", and the other 19 members of the club, which includes countries like Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina. Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord was a point of contention, leading to dissent against the United States during the negotiations. Greenpeace activists even staged a protest with a giant statue of Trump at the G20 summit in Hamburg. Merkel expressed her disappointment with the outcome, stating that the negotiations on climate ultimately highlighted the disagreement with the United States. Greenpeace activists staged a protest in front of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017, with a giant statue of US President Donald Trump. The difficult trade negotiations at the summit were attributed to the specific positions taken by the United States. The summit was marked by violent protests that resulted in burning cars and broken shop windows in Hamburg, bringing together a volatile mix of leaders during a time of significant global geopolitical changes. Trump's shift towards a more unilateral and transactional diplomacy has created a vacuum in global leadership, causing unease among traditional allies in Europe and allowing rising powers like China to increase their influence. Tensions between Washington and Beijing were a focal point leading up to the summit, with the Trump administration pressuring President Xi Jinping to control North Korea and threatening trade sanctions on steel. Trump and Putin met for the first time in Hamburg, in a highly anticipated meeting following Trump's campaign promise of improving relations with Russia. However, this was overshadowed by allegations of Russian interference in the election and investigations into Trump's associates' ties to Russia. Despite Trump's previous accusations of Russia's actions in Ukraine and Syria, he took a more conciliatory approach during the summit, expressing his satisfaction with Putin's denials of interference and focusing on future relations rather than past issues. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had an important meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 7, 2017. Secretary of State Tillerson described their positive chemistry. Trump was satisfied with Putin's denials of poll meddling. The other 19 leaders acknowledged the US withdrawal from the Paris climate accord as irreversible in the final communique. The US also stated its intention to work with other countries to use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently, with French President Emmanuel Macron leading efforts to soften this language. Thomas Bernes, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, mentioned that there is a clear consensus among countries excluding the United States. However, he also pointed out that this could be a problem, as the absence of the world's largest economy may limit progress. Jennifer Morgan, executive director at Greenpeace, commended the G19 for standing firm against Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the leaders agreed to combat protectionism and unfair trade practices while acknowledging the importance of legitimate trade defense mechanisms. The leaders also promised to collaborate on promoting economic growth in Africa, which is a key priority for Merkel. Despite facing violent protests, Merkel decided to host the summit in her birth city of Hamburg to demonstrate Germany's openness to the world and its acceptance of peaceful demonstrations. The summit took place near the "Rote Flora," a former theatre that has become a symbol of left-wing resistance after being taken over by anti-capitalist squatters almost thirty years ago. During the G20 summit in Hamburg in July 2017, protesters engaged in acts of violence such as looting shops and setting cars and trucks on fire. More than 200 police officers were injured, and around 143 people were arrested with 122 taken into custody following violent demonstrations at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 8, 2017. A protester threw a bottle at riot police during the protests. Much of the damage occurred while Chancellor Merkel was hosting a concert and dinner for other leaders at the Elbphilharmonie, a modern glass concert hall overlooking the Elbe River. Merkel later met with police and security forces to thank them for their efforts and criticized the "uncontrolled brutality" of some protesters. However, she faced tough questions about choosing Hamburg as the summit location during her closing press conference.