German Chancellor Angela Merkel successfully persuaded other world leaders to support a joint declaration covering various topics at a meeting in Hamburg, just 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 group. Trump recently announced the United States' withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, leading to protests by Greenpeace activists at the G20 summit in Hamburg. Merkel noted the disagreements on climate issues, with all countries except the US opposing its stance. Greenpeace activists protested with a large statue of US President Donald Trump outside the Elbphilharmonie concert hall during the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 7, 2017. The summit was marked by difficult trade negotiations, with the United States taking specific positions. The summit brought together leaders during a time of significant global political change, with Trump's shift to unilateral diplomacy creating a leadership vacuum and causing tension with traditional allies in Europe. The meeting was overshadowed by violent protests in Hamburg, highlighting the challenges facing the global political landscape. Tensions between the United States and China, particularly regarding North Korea and trade, were a key focus leading up to the summit. Trump-Putin Summit in Hamburg was highly anticipated as it was the first meeting between the two leaders. During the summit, Trump questioned Putin about alleged Russian meddling in the election, but Putin denied any interference. Despite previous accusations of Russian destabilising behavior, Trump took a more conciliatory approach in Hamburg, expressing his honor to meet Putin and indicating a desire to focus on future relations rather than past conflicts. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had a significant meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 7, 2017. Secretary of State Tillerson described the meeting as important with a positive chemistry between Trump and Putin. Trump seemed satisfied with Putin's denials of poll meddling. In the final communique, the 19 other leaders acknowledged the US decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord and declared it irreversible. The US included a controversial statement about working with other countries to access and use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently, which was opposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. Thomas Bernes, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, stated that there is a clear consensus without the presence of the United States, but expressed concern about the limitations of progress without the world's largest economy. Jennifer Morgan, executive director at Greenpeace, praised the G19 for standing firm against Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The leaders also agreed to combat protectionism and unfair trade practices while acknowledging the importance of legitimate trade defense mechanisms. The leaders made a commitment to collaborate on promoting economic growth in Africa, a key initiative for Merkel. Despite facing violent protests, Merkel decided to host the summit in her hometown of Hamburg as a way to show Germany's welcoming attitude towards the world and acceptance of peaceful demonstrations. The summit took place near a former theatre known as the "Rote Flora," a symbol of left-wing resistance in Germany. Throughout the three-day summit, radical protesters engaged in looting, setting fires to vehicles, and causing destruction in the city. Over 200 police officers were injured, and approximately 143 individuals were arrested with 122 taken into custody following protests at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 8, 2017. A demonstrator threw a bottle at riot police during the event. The most significant damage occurred while Chancellor Merkel was hosting a concert and dinner for other leaders at the Elbphilharmonie, a modern concert hall with a view of the Elbe River. Merkel later met with police and security forces to express gratitude and criticized the "unrestrained brutality" displayed by some protesters. However, she faced challenging inquiries during her concluding press conference regarding the decision to hold the summit in Hamburg.