KANANASKIS, Alberta — President Donald Trump will cut short his participation in the Group of Seven summit in Canada and return to Washington Monday night, citing rising tensions in the Middle East as the primary reason for his early departure, the White House confirmed.
The announcement came just hours after French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Trump had extended an offer aimed at brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in what would be a significant diplomatic maneuver amid fears of regional escalation.
“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 posted on X.
Trump’s early exit further complicated an already fractured summit, where G7 leaders have struggled to present a unified front on issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to mounting hostilities in the Middle East. Trump’s visible alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his push for renewed tariffs have further strained relations among the Western allies.
A U.S. official confirmed that Trump refused to endorse a draft G7 statement calling for the de-escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, deepening divisions on how to proceed diplomatically.
Despite this, Macron characterized Trump’s initiative positively, saying the offer to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict could open a path to wider talks.
“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions,” Macron told reporters. “We have to see now whether the sides will follow.”
While in Canada, Trump doubled down on his past criticism of Russia’s expulsion from the G8 in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea, calling it a “big mistake.” Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had it remained part of the group.
“Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else… he’s not a happy person about it,” Trump said. “He basically doesn’t even speak to the people that threw him out, and I agree with him.”
While he stopped short of advocating for Russia’s formal return, Trump’s remarks cast doubt on whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is scheduled to meet G7 leaders Tuesday, will gain the full support of the group.
European leaders had hoped to pressure Trump into backing harsher sanctions on Moscow, but those efforts appear to have faltered.
A Ukrainian Embassy spokesperson confirmed that Zelenskiy still plans to attend the summit, despite Trump’s departure.
Fearing a repeat of the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec, where Trump abruptly pulled U.S. approval from the joint statement after leaving, Canada has opted not to pursue a comprehensive communiqué this year.
Leaked draft documents on migration, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals have been circulated among G7 members, but none have secured American approval. One European diplomat told Reuters that without Trump’s participation, any final declaration is “in doubt.”
Carney extended invitations to non-G7 countries including Mexico, India, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, and Ukraine to broaden the summit’s diplomatic scope.
Despite the diplomatic strain, Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the finalization of a bilateral trade agreement, making Britain the first nation to lock in lower U.S. tariffs under the current administration.
Carney also said he and Trump had agreed to work toward a new economic and security pact within the next 30 days.
Trump hinted at a possible trade deal with Canada but underscored that tariffs remain central to any negotiation — a point rejected by Canadian officials.
“Our position is that we should have no tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States,” said Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington.
As Trump departs for Washington and the Middle East crisis deepens, questions remain about whether the G7 can maintain diplomatic coherence in his absence — or whether the group’s unity will fracture further.
