US President Donald Trump abruptly cut short his visit to the G7 Summit in Canada on Monday, citing rising tensions in the Middle East between Iran and Israel as the reason for his early return to Washington DC.
Speaking to reporters before his departure, Trump stated, “I have to be back as soon as I can,” referencing the volatile situation unfolding in the Middle East. He emphasized that the crisis, particularly Iran’s nuclear ambitions, required his immediate attention. “You probably see what I see,” he told journalists.
Despite his early exit, Trump announced a significant diplomatic achievement: the signing of a major trade deal with the United Kingdom. He described the US-UK relationship as “fantastic” and called the agreement an important milestone. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, calling it a “really important day.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the early departure on social media, stating that Trump would leave “after dinner with Heads of State” and praised the President’s accomplishments during the summit.
The early exit came amid a rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Last week, Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” a massive military offensive targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated “Operation True Promise 3,” launching drone and missile attacks on Israeli energy infrastructure.
President Trump, in a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social, strongly reiterated his stance that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. He wrote, “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” and criticized Iran for not accepting a nuclear deal he had proposed. “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!” Trump posted, aligning the crisis with his campaign slogan, “AMERICA FIRST.”
When asked if he recently spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump replied, “I’ve spoken to everybody.” He did not confirm any direct call but reiterated that he expects a deal with Iran to be signed eventually—though he did not elaborate on specifics.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, hosting the G7, expressed understanding over Trump’s early exit. “We’re grateful for President Trump’s presence here. He accomplished a lot, and we understand the urgent nature of his return,” Carney said.
The ongoing Israel-Iran confrontation has intensified in recent days, with both nations engaging in direct military actions. Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel’s military campaign “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” while Iran’s state media described its retaliatory strikes as targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel facilities and energy centers.
As the G7 summit continues without the US President, the global community remains on high alert over the unfolding Middle East crisis, which could have far-reaching implications on global security and energy stability.
