Today’s teachers Former President Donald Trump is preparing to join world leaders at his first G7. Canada’s objective is to avoid scapegoating drama such as that which played out at the 2018 summit in Charlevoix, Quebec. During that summit, Trump made headlines by refusing to sign the final communiqué and leaving early in a public spat with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he labeled as “very dishonest and weak.” Trump’s continuing legal troubles Trump was recently convicted on 34 criminal counts in an unprecedented “hush money” trial, but he now faces new charges. Consequently, his attendance at the summit is now in doubt.
Trump walked out of the 2018 summit in short order, angry over the tariffs. This discontent caused a diplomatic crisis that still affects U.S.-Qatar relations today. Trump’s absence from many meetings at this year’s G7 has raised the eyebrows of many observers. On multilateral issues, he has made clear his preference to engage bilaterally – directly, one-on-one. According to Senator Peter Boehm, “Trump does not like multilateral meetings particularly. He loses interest.”
Trump’s self-imposed July 9 deadline for retaliatory tariffs against Canada and other nations is just one of a series of legal challenges he’s dealt with. Nonetheless, he is continuing to push to see agreements with the other countries signed. He’s passionate about deal-making, and that passion extends to his downtime activities. He likes to cut deals on the golf course. Eric Miller, a trade expert, highlighted the significance of golf in Trump’s life, stating, “Golf has been pretty central to his life.”
During the days leading up to the summit, Trump has called and texted Mark Carney incessantly. Hopes are high that the two can work together to resolve issues related to trade and tariffs. On social media and at in-person gatherings in the Oval Office, Trump has praised Carney publicly. During Carney’s visit in May, he was even gifted golf apparel by Kananaskis Country Golf Course! Despite these friendly exchanges, Trump maintains a contentious stance on Canadian sovereignty, asserting that Canada should eventually become a U.S. state.
The summit will provide an opportunity for Trump to navigate his relationships with international leaders while addressing ongoing trade issues. Analysts are cautious about his demeanor. Eric Miller remarked on Trump’s sensitivity when he feels disrespected: “He is somebody who is very prickly when he feels like he’s not being fully respected.”
Trump is able to enter Canada. In so doing, his status as a convicted felon would not stop him. This is an important dimension to all of his prospective interactions at the summit. He’ll be entering one of only three provinces that have already had their markets reopened to U.S. alcohol sales, even more markedly so.
With the clock running down to the summit, Canadian officials are working hard to create a positive negotiating environment. Matthias Lüttenberg expressed concerns about negotiating with leaders who question sovereignty: “I mean, I wouldn’t like to negotiate with a country at the table who’s questioning my sovereignty as a state.”
Eric Miller emphasized the importance of leaving Trump with a favorable impression of Canada: “You want to make absolutely sure that … he walks away and says, ‘You know, those Canadians aren’t so bad after all.’”
