Trump Cuts G7 Trip Short Amid Middle East Tensions
Donald Trump exits G7 summit early amid Middle East crisis; proposes Israel-Iran ceasefire and urges Tehran evacuation, reigniting nuclear deal debate.
U.S. President Donald Trump made an early exit from the G7 summit in Canada, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East as the reason for his abrupt departure. The move, confirmed by the White House late Monday, comes as global leaders struggle to present a united front on key international conflicts.
“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,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Trump had floated a ceasefire proposal between Israel and Iran, adding a dramatic twist to the summit’s closing hours. “There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange... especially to get a ceasefire and then kick-start broader discussions,” Macron said. “We have to see now whether the sides will follow.”
Trump, earlier in the day, had called for the evacuation of Tehran and took aim at Iran for not agreeing to a nuclear deal with Washington—amplifying concerns of a wider regional conflict.
Discord at the Summit
The G7 leaders—representing the U.S., UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the EU—had gathered in the scenic Canadian Rockies to tackle a range of pressing issues. But unity proved elusive. Tensions flared over the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, with Trump’s vocal support for Russian President Vladimir Putin adding to the divide.
Trump reportedly declined to endorse a draft G7 statement urging de-escalation between Israel and Iran, further straining diplomatic consensus. Yet Macron remained optimistic, framing Trump’s early departure as a potential catalyst for peace efforts.
Trump Defends Russia, Stokes Unease Among Allies
In a joint appearance with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump doubled down on his controversial stance on Russia, criticizing the decision to expel Moscow from what was formerly the G8 after its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
“This was a big mistake,” Trump declared, suggesting that Russia might have avoided invading Ukraine in 2022 had it remained in the group. “Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else... he’s not a happy person about it.”
Though he stopped short of explicitly calling for Russia’s reinstatement, Trump’s remarks cast a shadow over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s upcoming meetings with G7 leaders. “It was a rough start,” noted Josh Lipsky, a former senior IMF official now at the Atlantic Council.
European nations had hoped to rally Trump behind tougher sanctions on Moscow—hopes that now appear dimmed.
Communique in Doubt, Key Deals Still in Play
Canada, wary of a repeat of the 2018 G7 summit where Trump abruptly withdrew U.S. support from the final communique, has avoided pushing for a sweeping joint statement this year. Multiple draft documents covering issues from AI to critical minerals have circulated, but none have secured U.S. backing so far.
Without Trump’s participation, a European diplomat warned, “It is unclear if there will be any declarations at all.” Despite the discord, some progress was made. Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer finalized a bilateral trade deal first announced last month, making the UK the first country to secure reduced U.S. tariffs under the new administration.
Carney added that he and Trump had agreed to pursue a broader economic and security pact within 30 days. However, discussions with Canada hit a snag over tariffs.
“Our position is that we should have no tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States,” emphasized Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington.
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