Skip to content
Search
Human content, AI powered search.

Latest Stories

News

Which world leaders are out-of-office this holiday season?

Which world leaders are out-of-office this holiday season?
GZERO Staff
By GZERO StaffDecember 30, 2019
GZERO Staff

GZERO Media editorial team

See Full Bio
Make us preferred on Google

As anyone who's sent an email in the past, say, five days knows, 'tis the season for those mechanically polite "out-of-office" bounce-back emails. World leaders deserve time off too, so here's a look at the automatic replies that we got from a few of them...

Vladimir Putin – Hello, I'm currently out celebrating the 20th anniversary of the day I took control of Russia. Let's be serious though: I will never truly be "out of office." For non-urgent requests, contact Dmitry Medvedev. He's still Prime Minister. No, seriously. For urgent requests, you'll have to wait until I'm back in town.

Evo Morales – Gracias por su correo. Following a coup, I am now "out of office." For the moment, you can reach me in Mexico. For urgent requests, please contact my MAS party, which is planning to field some candidates who are not me in the upcoming election.

Donald Trump – Hello LOSERS, thank you. I am right now looking VERY STRONGLY at a nine iron. The RADICAL LEFT do-nothing Democrats may want me "out of office" but THEY will not SUCCEED. Sad!

Nicolas Maduro – Hola, it's actually me writing here. A year ago, some of you were sure you'd be getting an out of office reply from me before long. As it turns out, I'm still very much in office. My generals and I are looking forward to a prospero año nuevo indeed.

Kim Jong-un – Thanks for your note, you deranged and bloodthirsty foolish swine. I am currently out at a Workers Party offsite and I may follow that up with a missile-building exercise, but you will hear from me soon. If this is Xi or Putin, you know how to reach me lol.

Angela Merkel – Vielen dank für Ihre Nachricht. I have been in office for so long now I'm not even sure what being Out of Office will be like, but that could happen as soon as this year. Hopefully someone will take care of Europe -- I did my best. In the meantime you can reach me at angieunbound @ Muttimail dot com.

Mark Zuckerberg – Hi, I read your email before you even sent it. I'm not "in office" in the political sense, but I have more power than most people who are. Try to regulate me. Just. You. Try.

Latest Videos

What a Democratic Congress would mean for Trump and the GOPplay icon
GZERO World Clips

What a Democratic Congress would mean for Trump and the GOP

Could Chinese AI give Europe an edge?
The Debrief

Could Chinese AI give Europe an edge?

Another break in the Trump-Zelensky relationship
Quick Take

Another break in the Trump-Zelensky relationship

Can Republicans survive Trump's unpopularity?
GZERO World Clips

Can Republicans survive Trump's unpopularity?

Midterms 2026: Is a blue wave coming?
GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

Midterms 2026: Is a blue wave coming?

The French are furious at Macron–for good reason
The Debrief

The French are furious at Macron–for good reason

More For You

South Sudan suffers drone strike, Romania finally gets a government, Colombia revives sea beef with Nicaragua

Medical workers treat injured people at Ameth Bek hospital after a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region along the border between South Sudan and Sudan, October 19, 2026.

Medical workers treat injured people at Ameth Bek hospital after a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region along the border between South Sudan and Sudan, October 19, 2026.

REUTERS/Medecins Sans Frontieres
Drone strike raises tensions between Sudan and South SudanSouth Sudan is accusing neighboring Sudan of launching a drone strike that killed at least 73 people at a market in Abyei, a disputed, oil-rich region of roughly 4,000 square miles claimed by both countries. The attack has heightened tensions between the two states, which split in 2011 [...]

Rare earths aren’t so rare in China

Rare earths aren’t so rare in China
Lottie Tellyn
The minerals include yttrium oxide, which is crucial for manufacturing jet engines and semiconductors. Inside China, one kilogram costs a mere $9. But outside of China? $1,150. China’s rare earth export controls — imposed partly in response to new US tariffs — are now threatening global supply chains. Japan has warned that it could run out of some [...]

Alberta nixes independence - but immigration is the real story

Supporters of the Forever Canadian group, who want Alberta to remain in Canada, wave Canadian flags as they wait for the results of a non-binding referendum on Alberta sovereignty in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada October 19, 2026.

Supporters of the Forever Canadian group, who want Alberta to remain in Canada, wave Canadian flags as they wait for the results of a non-binding referendum on Alberta sovereignty in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada October 19, 2026.

REUTERS/Todd Korol
Alberta is staying in Canada. After a long night of ballot counting, with some polling stations open until 10:30 pm due to long lines and late starts, voters in the oil-rich western Canadian province decisively rejected taking steps toward independence. Seventy-six percent voted to remain part of Canada, while 24% voted to initiate a secession [...]

Unrest in France spreads, Trump endorses Netanyahu, US-Ukraine ties fray

Protesters set up barricades and burn materials near Place de la Republique in Paris, France, on October 18, 2026, the day following a large demonstration.

Protesters set up barricades and burn materials near Place de la Republique in Paris, France, on October 18, 2026, the day following a large demonstration.

Jerome Gilles via Reuters Connect
Weekend of unrest rocks FranceOngoing student protests in France descended into looting and riots over the weekend as more than half a million people took to the streets across the country. The unrest briefly spread to Portugal, Belgium, and Italy as well. Although the French protests began with demands for more education funding, the latest [...]