The first working day of the G7 Summit held in Canada ended with an unexpected twist: President Donald Trump announced that he would leave the meeting before its conclusion, citing the need to return to Washington immediately in the face of the worsening armed conflict between Israel and Iran.
Hours before leaving the G7 summit, the president sent a message through his Truth Social account in which he asked everyone to leave Tehran.
“I have to be back as soon as possible.”
The announcement that Trump would leave the G7 summit was made official by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at 17:30 local time (23:30 GMT), shortly after the traditional group photograph of world leaders.
Through his social networks, Leavitt stated that Trump had had “a great day” at the summit and highlighted the signing of a trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
However, he explained that the president would leave the meeting that evening “due to events in the Middle East.”
Trump, when questioned by the press, confirmed his urgent return to the US: “You probably see what I see. I have to be back as soon as possible”.
Meeting with Claudia Sheinbaum cancelled
Trump’s early exit had immediate consequences.
Mexico’s newly arrived president, Claudia Sheinbaum, was expected to hold a bilateral meeting with the U.S. president to address trade issues between the two countries.
Also pending were meetings with the President of Ukraine, Volodymir Zelenski, and with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, both of whom were scheduled to hold key talks with the U.S. delegation.
Throughout the day, the Iran-Israel conflict dominated the talks between the G7 leaders, along with global economic issues and the tariff conflict between the US and its major trading partners.
Trump toughens his message on Iran
In the morning, Trump claimed that Iran had shown willingness, through intermediaries, to de-escalate the conflict.
However, the president’s tone changed as the hours passed.
At the end of the day, through his Truth Social network, he issued a direct warning:
“Iran should have signed the agreement I proposed to them. What a waste of human lives. IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
This statement set off alerts at the diplomatic level and provoked additional tensions between the delegations.
Trade progress despite tension
What would Macron have said to Meloni? So began the G-7 summit, with an awkward moment when the French leader says something to the Italian when Trump enters. His Meloni’s face says it all. pic.twitter.com/UgNTrGWkhg
– Amir Ibrahim 🇲🇽 (@AmirIbrahimQRoo) June 16, 2025
Despite the adverse geopolitical climate, Trump took advantage of his brief time at the summit to close strategic deals.
First, a bilateral trade agreement was announced between the US and the UK, signed with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, with the aim of reducing tariffs and promoting jobs in both countries.
“This agreement is fair to both sides and will generate a lot of jobs and investment,” Trump told reporters.
Likewise, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, informed that both parties agreed to accelerate trade negotiations between the US and the European Union.
“We talked about key issues, from Ukraine to trade. On that front, we instructed our teams to work faster,” Von der Leyen said from her official X account.
For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, host of the event, revealed that Canada and the United States also agreed to move forward in their own negotiations with the goal of closing a trade agreement within the next 30 days.
A retreat with multiple implications
Buzzy
Trump’s withdrawal put important bilateral talks on hold, especially with Mexico, at a time when trade and migration relations require urgent attention.
It also reinforces the growing global concern about the scope and consequences of the Iran-Israel conflict, which has already left hundreds dead in less than a week.
For the U.S. Hispanic community, the development of these issues has direct implications, from possible economic impacts due to the volatility of international trade, to changes in immigration policy if the conflict in the Middle East escalates.
Iran should have signed the agreement I proposed. What a waste of human life. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Everyone should evacuate Tehran immediately!
