President Donald Trump departed the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, a full day earlier than planned, with the White House citing the escalating Middle East conflict between Israel and Iran as the urgent reason for his premature exit.
The decision, announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday night, meant President Trump left after a working dinner with G7 heads of state instead of staying through Tuesday. Upon his return to Washington, D.C., the President is scheduled to meet with his National Security Council, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio also returning alongside him.
Focus Shifts to Middle East Tensions
The intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran has become a dominant global concern, marked by recent retaliatory strikes and rising tensions in the region. This unfolding situation significantly overshadowed the G7 agenda, which was initially expected to focus heavily on trade issues among the world’s leading economies.
President Trump confirmed the urgency of his departure, telling reporters that he needed to return “as soon as I can” due to “very important” matters. He has reportedly been in constant communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the crisis.
A key point of divergence at the summit was the G7 leaders’ discussion about issuing a joint statement calling for de-escalation in the region. While other G7 delegations reportedly continued working on a draft statement, a U.S. official indicated that President Trump would not sign the communique. The official noted that under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. remains focused on leading efforts to restore peace and ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon, a position he feels he has already clearly articulated publicly. Trump himself reiterated his stance that Iran must agree to end its nuclear program.
Adding to his public commentary on the conflict, the President posted on social media urging Iran to sign a “deal” he had previously proposed. He also issued a stark warning, advising residents of Tehran to “immediately evacuate.” Addressing reporters at the summit, Trump suggested Iran was not winning the conflict and should seek talks immediately.
Summit Highlights Before Departure
Despite the early departure driven by the Middle East crisis, the White House highlighted accomplishments during President Trump’s truncated stay in Canada. A notable outcome was formalizing adjustments to tariffs on certain British goods with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This move is part of broader efforts by the U.S. and UK to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal.
Specific details of the tariff adjustments included removing tariffs on certain UK aerospace goods and establishing a quota system for reduced tariffs on British cars and car parts entering the U.S. While progress was made, it was noted that the agreement did not immediately eliminate the 25% steel tariffs, a point of negotiation following an earlier agreement in May.
President Trump also held other bilateral meetings, including one with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the summit host, who reportedly understood the reasons for the U.S. President’s early exit. However, the change in schedule meant President Trump missed planned meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, among others. The cancellation of the meeting with Prime Minister Albanese, in particular, drew comment, though his office called it understandable given the circumstances.
The sudden shift highlighted how global crises can quickly alter the focus of high-level diplomatic gatherings, with the Israel-Iran conflict effectively overshadowing other key discussions planned for the G7 leaders.
This is not the first instance of President Trump departing a G7 summit hosted in Canada early; he also left the 2018 Charlevoix meeting ahead of schedule for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, linking both early exits to international conflicts involving nuclear programs.
