Continuing his European trip, President Trump met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel this afternoon ahead of the G20 Summit, where world leaders will discuss important issues throughout the weekend.

As the media outside were busy focusing on handshakes and facial expressions, the two leaders were trying to find common ground, specifically on foreign policy and world security. Trump and Merkel discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East, the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the how to deal with North Korea. While they disagree fundamentally on many issues, security is a priority for us all, and both leaders recognize the threats that these issues pose.

Meanwhile, the streets of Hamburg were flooded with protesters. Without a clear message, these demonstrators were protesting a range of topics such as capitalism and globalism, or government as a whole.

What started off as a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday night, quickly turned dark on Thursday, with the ‘Welcome to Hell March’, welcoming the world leaders attending the conference including Presidents Trump and Putin. Protests aren’t new to global conferences like this one, but due to the logistical issues of hosting it in a major city like Hamburg, and the lack of a message behind the protests, a sense of complete chaos was felt in Hamburg, as rioters left residents fearing for the safety of their houses and businesses.

The police were prepared for the demonstrations and knew they might turn violent. Over 20,000 officers were deployed to help maintain order in the city, and they have used water cannons and tear gas in order to bring their best efforts in doing so.

Protests are expected to continue as the conference gets underway. This particular summit seems to be quite a precarious one, as there are many controversial topics to discuss, and various world leaders have vastly different opinions on what is important and how to tackle the various issues. Topics such as climate change and refugees, as well as economic issues, like global trade, will be discussed.

On trade, Trump has clashed with other world leaders, as his protectionist views don’t sit well with Europe’s most powerful. Climate is another point of tension, as Trump’s counterparts keep on pushing the pointless Paris Agreement. Trump continues to hold strong on refugees, as Europe opens its doors and suffers as a result. Trump’s early stance on Russia also has unnerved his allies who clash with him on the issue.

One of the places where the leaders will hopefully find common ground is regarding North Korea, who have stepped up their military operations recently, and pose a threat to the Western World. The meetings will hopefully bring us a plan for how to combat this new development.

Look for Trump to hold strong on climate and refugees, two of his most prominent platforms. We’ll see what happens with Trump’s economic policies, which might have to be where the President compromises with his European allies.

Our President is walking a tightrope during the G20. On one hand, he has strong opinions which clash with many European leaders. Those are what got him elected, and it is important for him to hold strong to his principles. On the other side is the threat that he begins to lose his grip on the international community, who have not held back in chastising his opinions and actions. Trump must find the right balance between the two and hopefully come out of this meeting with a clear plan on how to move forward on these various issues at hand.