Credit: The White House
European leaders sit across from Trump at Oval Office desk in ‘Big Boss’ shot
A White House photo showing European leaders seated across from US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office desk, their frustrated expressions on full display, has been described online by some as a bold “power move.”
The photo comes from Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, ahead of discussions on whether and how to end the Ukraine war.
One photo immediately stole the show online. It captured Trump sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, while the European leaders were seated side-by-side across from him, like a panel of interviewees. Social media users quickly dubbed it the “Big Boss shot.”
Some hailed the image as “iconic,” declaring that “history is happening right in front of us.”
Not sure everyone realizes it, but history is happening right in front of us!
— I Meme Therefore I Am(@ImMeme0) August 19, 2025
European leaders sitting around President Trump’s desk. pic.twitter.com/xOL4jRqUKd
“They were arranged like ignoramuses, just listening to whatever he has to say,” one commenter wrote.
A picture paints a thousand words; and this one shows how some European leaders being humiliated by Trump. They were ‘arranged’ to sit that way like ignoramuses & listening to what he has to say. A pity to see Meloni dragged into this. pic.twitter.com/ftSpW0yp4K
— azazim (@pujangg05818099) August 19, 2025
Others took a less flattering view, pointing out the exasperated looks on the leaders’ faces, especially Italian President Giorgia Meloni, commenting, " That’s not frustration, that’s centuries of Roman disappointment in one glance".
European leaders gathered around President Trump’s desk.
— Jobob (@JobobTaeleifi) August 19, 2025
This isn’t just a meeting… this is a geopolitical group chat IRL.
Also, is that Giorgia Meloni on the far left? She looks like she just realized the White House doesn’t serve espresso. That’s not frustration, that’s… pic.twitter.com/0V3lsxh0Hs
