Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cut short a question-and-answer session with President Donald Trump ahead of the G7 summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, taking a few minutes of time from reporters to shift focus toward the summit’s pressing agenda. The session, held minutes before the official start of the summit, saw Trump fielding a series of questions on geopolitical issues, including the exclusion of Russia from the G8, the Israel-Iran conflict, and his immigration policies.
Trump addressed the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, highlighting Iran’s desire to de-escalate the conflict while criticizing his opponents for not addressing the issue earlier. He also criticized former President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for expelling Russia from the G8, which Trump claimed had led to a more complex geopolitical landscape. ‘That was a mistake because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia, and you wouldn’t have a war right now if Trump were president four years ago,’ Trump said, reflecting his belief that Russia’s absence has complicated international relations.
In a separate topic, Trump reiterated his stance on immigration, defending his policy of deporting illegal immigrants in major U.S. cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He pointed to former President Barack Obama’s immigration policies as a factor in an increase in undocumented immigrants, claiming that these individuals have been involved in crime and are being used as a political tool by Democrats. ‘Biden allowed 21 million people to come into our country,’ Trump stated, suggesting that the influx has led to an increase in criminal activity. ‘Most of those people are in the cities, all blue cities, all Democrat-run cities, and they think they’re going to use them to vote. It’s not going to happen.’
Carney, who is overseeing the G7 summit as its chair, decided to end the session early, citing the need to proceed with the summit’s agenda. ‘If you don’t mind,’ Carney said, ‘I’m going to exercise my role if you will as G7 chair, since we have a few more minutes with the president and his team, and then we actually have to start the meeting to address some of the big issues. So thank you.’ This move sparked mixed reactions, with some analysts suggesting that Carney’s intervention may have been aimed at steering the conversation toward trade and economic cooperation, which are central to the summit’s objectives.
Trump, meanwhile, continued to address trade issues, emphasizing his preference for tariffs as a trade strategy. He commented on the stalled trade deal with Canada, acknowledging the complexity of the negotiations but expressing confidence in reaching a resolution. ‘I’m a tariff person, I’ve always been a tariff person,’ Trump said, stating that Carney’s proposals were both complex and well-developed. ‘We can work something out.’ This remark underscored Trump’s focus on economic policies and trade relations, which are likely to be significant points of discussion during the summit.
Other topics included Trump’s remarks on the U.S. military’s potential involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. When asked about the possibility of U.S. involvement, Trump avoided a direct answer, stating, ‘I don’t want to talk about that.’ This response highlighted the sensitivity of the issue and the potential for further escalation in the region. The summit is expected to address a range of global challenges, including trade, security, and international relations, with the U.S. and Canada playing key roles in shaping the outcomes of these discussions.
Overall, the incident underscores the high-stakes nature of the G7 summit, where leaders are expected to navigate complex geopolitical and economic issues. As the summit progresses, the focus is likely to remain on addressing global challenges and strengthening international cooperation, particularly in light of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the evolving trade relationships among G7 nations.