KANANASKIS, Alberta, June 16 – U.S. President Donald Trump made an unexpected early exit from the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada on Monday evening, cutting short his participation due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The decision, confirmed by the White House, came just after a dinner with fellow world leaders in the Canadian Rockies.
Urgency Behind Trump’s Departure
The summit, which brought together leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union, was scheduled to run until Tuesday. President Trump decided to cut his G7 visit short in light of the escalating crisis between Israel and Iran. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the President felt his presence was urgently needed to address what she described as a rapidly evolving crisis.
A great deal was achieved, but due to the developments in the Middle East, President Trump will depart this evening following his dinner with fellow world leaders,” Leavitt shared on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Trump had offered terms for a potential ceasefire between Israel and Iran, a development he characterized as a constructive step. “An invitation to engage in dialogue and discussions has certainly been extended. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions,” Macron said. He added that Trump’s early departure could be seen as beneficial, allowing space for negotiations to advance without the distraction of wider summit dynamics.
Trump had earlier urged a swift evacuation of American citizens from Tehran and restated his long-standing criticism that Iran had failed to agree to a new nuclear accord with the United States, echoing his stance from previous diplomatic efforts.
Debate Over Russia’s Place in Global Politics
While at the summit, Trump once again stirred controversy by questioning Russia’s removal from the G8 — a group that became the G7 after Moscow was ousted in 2014 for annexing Crimea. Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said removing Russia had been a misstep, claiming the move contributed to deteriorating diplomatic relations and more aggressive actions from Moscow.
“This was a big mistake,” Trump remarked. “Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else. he’s not a happy person about it. I can tell you that he basically doesn’t even speak to the people that threw him out, and I agree with him.”
Although he stopped short of calling for Russia’s full reinstatement, his comments raised concerns among European leaders, particularly those hoping to strengthen sanctions against Moscow over its continued military activities in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to attend the summit on Tuesday, although Trump’s departure may weaken efforts to solidify new sanctions or agreements.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s embassy in Canada confirmed Zelenskiy’s plans to continue with his visit.
G7 Struggles for Unity Amid Global Crises
The summit had already faced challenges in building a united front on several key issues, including the war in Ukraine, the Middle East crisis, and climate commitments. Trump’s focus on prioritizing U.S. interests over long-standing G7 consensus led to continued tension among the group’s members.
One particular point of disagreement centered on final summit declarations. Canada, hosting this year’s event, reportedly decided against producing a single, unified communique to avoid a repeat of the 2018 debacle when Trump withdrew U.S. endorsement of the concluding statement following his departure from the summit.
Instead, several individual statements on topics such as artificial intelligence, migration, and critical minerals were drafted, though sources indicate the United States has not formally approved any of them.
Without U.S. participation, the finalization of these documents now hangs in uncertainty. A European diplomat remarked that Trump’s absence leaves uncertainty around whether any formal statements will be issued.
Carney additionally welcomed leaders from nations outside the G7—such as Mexico, India, Brazil, South Korea, South Africa, Australia, and Ukraine—in an effort to broaden the dialogue and include perspectives from a wider range of global partners.
Trade Developments Amid Diplomacy
Despite the mounting global tensions, Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the finalization of a long-anticipated trade agreement between the U.S and the U.K. The agreement, reached last month, makes Britain the first nation to successfully conclude a new bilateral trade deal under Trump’s current administration.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed optimism about reaching a similar deal with the United States within 30 days, though key sticking points remain — especially over tariffs.
Trump emphasized the importance of tariffs as part of any trade agreement, a position at odds with Canada’s stance. “Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington, emphasized that Canadian goods should face no tariffs when entering the U.S. market.
The issue of tariffs has long been a source of tension between Washington and Ottawa, with Canadian leaders continuing to advocate for freer trade while Trump insists on protecting U.S. industries.