G7 meeting highlights US role on world stage, Israel-Iran conflict

President Donald Trump addressed a range of global issues during a press briefing before the G7 summit, drawing attention to the administration’s focus on trade, immigration, and international relations, including the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

G7 member countries include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union is a member, but not counted among the seven.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney opened Monday’s conference in Alberta, Canada, by congratulating America on celebrating the 250^th anniversary of the U.S. Army and extolling the virtues of Trump and American leadership.

“A happy birthday to the U.S. military as well. 250th and this is the 50th birthday, if you will, of the G7,” said Carney. “This marks the 50th birthday of the G7 and the G7 is nothing without U.S. leadership and your personal leadership, leadership in the United States – many issues, geopolitics, economic, technology and working hand in hand with the United States.”  

The Army’s successful birthday bash took place in Washington D.C. over the weekend, even as Democrats rallied around the country with “No Kings” protests to accuse Trump of acting like royalty. 

By contrast, Trump started his comments at the G7 press conference by harshly criticizing two U.S. and Canadian politicians who used to be treated like royalty in their respective countries.  

Trump blasted former U.S. President Barack Obama and former Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau for decisions that kicked Russia out of what was then known as the G8, saying the shortsighted decision helped create the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine.  

“I look forward to that, the G7,” said Trump. “Used to be the G8. Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in. Then I would say that that was a mistake, because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in, and you wouldn’t have a war right now if Trump were President four years ago,” he added.  

Reporters then pivoted to a trade agreement between Canada and the United States and asked Trump what the holdup might be. 

Trump said an agreement could be reached quickly, once both sides agreed to a framework for the deal. 

He noted that he’s always been a fan of using tariffs in trade deals because they’re easy to understand when they are fair for everyone. 

“I’ve always been a tariff [advocate]. Simple, it’s easy, it’s precise, and it just goes very quickly,” the president said, adding that Carney’s approach was more complex, but “also very good.” 

Trump said the two sides would negotiate, but thought a deal was “achievable.”  

When asked if he supported the admittance of China to the G7, Trump said he was open to the idea, as long as China was willing to “talk.” 

“You know, they don’t talk,” said Trump about China. “Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else,” after which Trump again named Obama and Trudeau as responsible for the current war in Ukraine, because of how badly they treated Russia.  

But Trump also admitted that at this point, Russia has let too much water go “over the dam” to be readmitted to the G7. 

Trump addressed his decision to step up immigration enforcement in large cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. 

In a social media post, Trump called the cities “the core of the Democrat Power Center” and alleged that Democrats use illegal immigrants to steal votes and rob taxpayers through social welfare programs open to illegal immigrants.  

When asked by a reporter why he is targeting Democrat cities, Trump said it was because the sanctuary policies advocated by politicians such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker welcomed illegal immigrants and made those places a magnet for the largest numbers of potential deportees.  

“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,” said Trump. “It’s not going to happen.”  

Trump also admitted that the U.S. has received ceasefire signals from the Iranian regime amid a conflict between the Islamic-dominated country and Israel, where the Jewish state is increasingly imposing its military supremacy. 

To put the war in scale, the Associated Press is reporting that Iran attacked Israel with missiles, killing eight people, while Israel is advising hundreds of thousands of civilians in Iran’s capital of Tehran to immediately leave the city ahead of new strikes. 

“I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late,” added Trump.  

The president refused to answer questions about what it would take for the U.S. to become involved militarily in the conflict but said, “We’ve always supported Israel.”