Trump bolts G7 for ‘something much bigger’ than ceasefire

In a dramatic exit from the G7 summit in Canada on Tuesday, June 17, US President Donald Trump declared he’s heading to Washington for reasons far grander than brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. 

In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s claim that he left to negotiate a Middle East truce, calling it “wrong” and teasing a mission “much bigger than that.” 

“Publicity-seeking President Emmanuel Macron mistakenly said I left the G7 to work on a ‘ceasefire’ between Israel and Iran,” Trump wrote. 

“He has no idea why I’m now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a ceasefire. Stay tuned!” 

The abrupt departure means Trump will miss key meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, as well as sidestep the arrivals of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. 

Initially, Trump’s early exit was attributed to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, marked by deadly missile exchanges over several days. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted on X on Monday, “President Trump had a great day at the G7, signing a major trade deal with the UK and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. But due to the Middle East crisis, he’ll leave after dinner with heads of state.” 

Macron, however, told reporters at the summit that Trump was rushing back to broker a ceasefire. “There’s an offer to meet and exchange, especially to secure a ceasefire and kick-start broader discussions,” he said. 

Trump’s cryptic rebuttal has left observers speculating about his true motives, with no clarity on what “much bigger” entails. 

Before posting this message on Truth Social, Trump in another post had asked all to evacuate Tehran insisting Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

“Iran should have signed the “deal” I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!’ he wrote.