Kananaskis, Canada – U.S. President Donald Trump departed the G7 summit in Canada one day ahead of schedule, citing the intensifying Israel‑Iran conflict as the reason for his abrupt exit. The White House confirmed his return to Washington was driven by the need to monitor developments in the Middle East closely.
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Before leaving, Trump urged residents of Tehran to “immediately evacuate” amid mounting Israeli airstrikes and Iranian retaliatory missile fire. He clarified in a Truth Social post that his departure was “nothing to do with a ceasefire” efforts, countering French President Macron’s suggestion that he aimed to broker a truce.
Trump did, however, lend his support to a G7 statement calling for de-escalation, affirming Israel’s right to defend itself and condemning Iran’s escalating military actions. His early departure, occurring after a state dinner, disrupted planned meetings with Ukrainian and Mexican counterparts.
The move also follows military repositioning by the U.S., with two aircraft carrier strike groups—USS Nimitz and Carl Vinson—redirected toward the Middle East, and tanker aircraft deployed to bolster regional readiness.
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Trump’s departure underscores the G7’s fractured unity. While other leaders aim to maintain the summit’s momentum, some participants lamented the shift, describing the gathering as an effective “G6” in his absence
