Donald Trump photos with Balkan leaders spark social media speculation

Social media speculation has emerged regarding the authenticity of photographs featuring various Balkan leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump. Leaders including Albin Kurti, Edi Rama, Hristijan Mickoski, Aleksandar Vučić, and Romanian President Nicușor Dan all shared images taken during a reception at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

Observers noted that Trump appears in an almost identical pose, with the same smile and hand gesture, in every photo. This led to conspiracy theories and jokes suggesting the leaders were posing with a cardboard cutout or a wax figure.

Official explanations clarify that the similarity is due to strict diplomatic protocol. During the event, only an official White House photographer was permitted to take the pictures. The photos were captured from a consistent angle, lighting, and composition as delegations approached the President one by one. The resulting images were then distributed to the respective embassies, creating the appearance of identical shots when viewed side-by-side.