Trump Persists in Assailing Trudeau at G7 Summit
Slapping Straight Talk at the G7
Canada's ex-Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, might've left the hot seat, but during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Donald Trump let loose, spouting false claims about Trudeau and the G8.
In front of Mark Carney, journalists, and general ruckus, Trump skewered Trudeau for orchestrating Russia's boot from the G7. Pausing dramatically, he lamented, "Before, it was the G8. Barack Obama and this guy named Trudeau didn't want Russia. I'd say that was a mistake."
A little later, Trump dug the knife deeper, "Vladimir Putin was 'thrown out by Trudeau, who convinced one or two others, including Obama.'" Factually incorrect, Russia was removed from the G8 due to its occupation of Crimea in 2014, with the decision made post-Trudeau's tenure.
Trump's appearance in Alberta marked his second Canadian visit since his infamous storm-out at the 2018 G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Quebec. At that time, he nicknamed Trudeau a "very dishonest and weak" leader. Nonetheless, they greeted each other during the chaotic Q&A session on Monday, with Trump verbally jousting with reporters and alleging that the war in Ukraine could have been averted had Russia been invited to the table.
G7 Kickoff
As the media, including a representation from Devoir, waited under heavy police guard, Mark Carney and Trump met privately on Monday morning. The official bilateral discussion, delayed due to Trump's impromptu question-and-answer session, instantly drifted the packed schedule. After navigating the overheated meeting room, journalists were asked to leave, with Carney asserting his authority as the summit's host.
Once the room emptied, Carney stood dignified behind his back, playing the diplomat as Trump primarily discussed domestic politics. This initial meeting lasted longer than the scheduled 45 minutes.
Discussions mainly revolved around U.S. tariffs and geopolitical topics, such as the situation in the Middle East. The subsequent discussions, though devoid of journalists, continued for about an hour.
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As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted at the possibility of G7 sanctions on Russia, attention also turned to other pressing geopolitical issues, including the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The G7 nations, along with seven additional countries, will soon engage in discussions to address these issues.
President Trump kept mum about his country's role in the conflict, choosing instead to quip about a lot of water having "gone under the bridge" regarding Russia's reentry into the G7.
In the midst of the G7 discussions, President Trump revisited the issue of Russia's exclusion from the G8, blaming Trudeau and Obama for the decision, a claim which historically is unfounded as Russia was removed due to its occupation of Crimea in 2014, well after Trudeau's tenure.
Politics took center stage during the private meeting between Trump and Mark Carney, with the focus largely on geopolitical topics such as US tariffs and the situation in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has also grabbed the attention of the G7 nations, preparing for discussions on potential sanctions against Russia.
