Why did Trump leave the G7? President said he would head to the Situation Room
- Trump left the G7 summit early to address the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
- Trump urged residents of Iran's capital Tehran to evacuate.
- Israel initiated attacks on Iran's nuclear program on June 13. Iran has retalitated.
President Donald Trump left a summit with world leaders early on June 16 and returned to the White House to address the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Israel launched the first attacks on June 13 aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear program and missiles. Iran has retaliated with ballistic missiles. Iran and Israel are long-time enemies, and the United States is a key ally of Israel.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back to Washington that he was hoping to end the conflict without elaborating much on his administration's next steps. But his administration has emphasized his repeated statements that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers in the United States have said they would cosponsor measures to block the United States from going to war with Iran.
Why did Trump leave the G7 summit?
Trump left the G7 summit early to focus on the deepening Israel-Iran conflict.
"I have to be back early," he told reporters during a group photo with other world leaders. "You probably see what I see, and I have to be back as soon as I can."
But Trump rejected the idea he was going to work on a ceasefire, saying he is after something "much bigger than that," on Truth Social.
Trump's early departure from the summit means bilateral meetings with the leaders of Mexico and Ukraine are canceled.
Trump says he's headed to the situation room
Trump told reporters on AF1 he was headed to the Situation Room early in the morning on June 17, according to a pool report.
The Situation Room is a suite of secure conference rooms established in 1961 after President John F. Kennedy insisted the White House have a facility suited for real-time secretive intelligence work. Located in the West Wing basement, it is where top national security officials typically convene in moments of global crisis or conflict.
“Just to be a little bit, I think, more well versed, not having to use telephones so much because I don’t believe in telephones, because people like you listen to them," Trump said, according to the pool report.
Trump evacuation order to Tehran: 'Before it's too late'
Trump warned the people of Tehran, Iran's capital, to leave before it's too late in a post on Truth Social. Tehran has approximately 10 million residents.
"Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life," he said in a post on Truth Social on June 16. "IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!"
Trump said he had not reached out to Iran for peace talks on the morning of June 17, saying, "If they want to talk, they know how to reach me," and reiterating that making a deal would have saved lives.
What is the G7 Summit?
The Group of Seven allies, known as the G7, consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union also participates in the G7 Summit discussions.
The annual summit is taking place in Alberta, Canada, this year. Last year, it happened in Italy.
The G7 put out a statement on June 16 expressing support for Israel.
"Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon," the statement read. "We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza."
Contributing: Davis Winkie, Sudiksha Kochi, Kim Hjelmgaard, Paste BN
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the Paste BN Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.