Donald Trump’s team says he is leaving the G7 summit in Canada early due to the conflict in the Middle East – but other world leaders intend to see the meeting through to the end
Donald Trump is set to leave the G7 summit early, his team has announced.
The President will abruptly return to the US tonight (local time in Canada), and so will miss the final day in Banff. Mr Trump’s team says the world leader has made the decision due to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. However, the leaders at the summit are on Tuesday hoping to sign a joint a statement calling for the de-escaltion in tensions in the Middle East.
Writing on X, which was known as Twitter, Karoline Leavitt, Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary, said: “President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”
But Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian politician, is supposed to be at the summit tomorrow. The politicians there intend to discuss Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine – but Mr Trump, aged 79, won’t be present for this.
READ MORE: Donald Trump calls for immediate evacuation of Iran’s capital amid conflict
Keir Starmer managed to secure a major deal with Mr Trump before the Republican’s swift exit. That was despite Mr Trump accidentally dropping a key document and referring to an “EU deal” while talking about his arrangement with the UK.
Despite their importance, Mr Trump was seen fumbling documents ahead of a key press address in Banff, Canada. Sir Keir had to crouch down to pick the papers up and pass them back to the US Commander-in-Chief. The pair chuckled as Mr Trump stood still and smiled, before the Prime Minister brandished the paper himself, heralding the “very important document”.
But Mr Trump’s now hurriedly back to the US, dodging the encounter with Mr Zelensky. One of the last times the pair last met saw Mr Trump chuck the Ukrainian leader out of the White House. Hopes of peace talks appeared to shatter in February following the fiery showdown.
And his handling of the Iran-Israel conflict has come under scrutiny today – despite the leader’s decision to rush back to the US to address the fighting – after a ominous message on Truth Social. Mr Trump posted: “Iran should have signed the “deal” I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
The President said Iran should have agreed to the “deal” he told them to sign to prevent what he called “a shame, and waste of human life,” referring to Israel’s attacks in recent days.