BANFF, Canada — President Donald Trump is leaving the Group of Seven leaders’ summit in Canada early, citing conflict in the Middle East between Iran and Israel.
“President Trump will return to Washington tonight so he can attend to many important matters,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday.
Leavitt then released a statement that although “much was accomplished” at the G7, “because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”
“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer,” she wrote on social media platform X.
Earlier Monday, Trump posted on his own social media platform, Truth Social, that “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign,” the president wrote. “What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!”
During his bilateral meeting with G7 host Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump told reporters Iran was seeking to deescalate with Israel, saying it “is not winning this war” and that “they should talk immediately before it’s too late.”
Before the press appearance, it was reported that the U.S. was unlikely to sign onto a G7 statement regarding Iran and Israel as Trump tries to strike a new nuclear deal with Tehran.
“Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world,” a White House official told the Washington Examiner. “President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Trump departs Canada before formal bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in addition to more casual “pull asides” with the likes of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a press conference.
He also leaves the G7 before the leaders reached any agreement on a range of issues, from Israel’s wars with Iran and Hamas to the Ukraine-Russia war and tariffs.