Donald Trump recently filled the news feed. He departed the G7 summit a day early, claiming operational security as rationale for the last-minute exit. His announcement played out against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Middle East. It overshadowed an ongoing series of diplomatic encounters that drew attention to his consistently unprecedented approach to foreign relations.
At the G7 summit, Trump gallantly went against the time-honored grain and said Russia should be let back in. He argued passionately for its reintegration into the organization. Yet occasionally, he showed a penchant for going it alone, arguing that multilateralism was of scant importance to tackling the big issues facing the world. Trump’s insistence on personalism over mutuality felt like it trampled the sense of collegiality we can usually all count on from G7 summits.
In one of the rarer displays of bipartisan cooperation, Trump touted a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom. The first act was to mislabel it as a deal with EU, shocking everyone in the hall and around the world. The gaffe served as a convenient illustration of Trump’s unorthodox style on the global stage. Too often, his fruitful, loose cannon approach won out over clear and tight.
Trump has famously clumsily dropped trade agreements on the ground, all while trying to make a point about the bad deals he’s going to undo or renegotiate. This little incident was a good example of the laid back environment he frequently created. It exposed the slapdash, disjointed communications tactics of his administration.
Foreign leaders reportedly scrambled to secure meetings with Trump during the summit, eager to negotiate trade deals that could mitigate the effects of impending tariffs. International counterparts were understandably eager to closely watch, underscoring the gravity of Trump’s actions for international trade. Their concerns, which may seem xenophobic to some, clearly express worries about the possible economic fallout.
Right before leaving for State Visit, President Trump succeeded in convincing European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. The ultimate plan was to agree on the specifics for a trade agreement. This meeting was the height of diplomacy in an otherwise increasingly unilateral Trump administration where the focus was more on one off deals than multilateralism.
As these negotiations were underway, Trump decided to escalate the narrative by going on Truth Social to threaten Iran in a much more direct tone. His tweets demanded the “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” of the Iranian leaders. He claimed that the United States had no doubt about the whereabouts of their top leader. These statements foreshadowed his administration’s troublingly antagonistic turn towards the region.
As we’ve seen Trump in the G7 meetings, there’s great media care over how Trump is worried about going on in the Middle East. He frequently requested updates from advisors on the situation, reflecting his prioritization of foreign policy matters even as he engaged with other leaders on various issues.
When Trump left the summit early, it created confusion and made media and political observers alike raise their eyebrows in speculation. Others speculated about what he was really trying to do. He alleged that security concerns drove his decision. Reports soon revealed that aides had rearranged his schedule to suit his tastes, raising the possibility that boredom was a factor in his departure.
“Being on the scene is much better, and we did everything I had to do at the G7.” – President Donald Trump
Upon returning to Washington, Trump convened national security officials in the White House Situation Room. They took to the stage to address the deepening crisis in the Middle East. His administration’s strategic approach seemed heavily influenced by real-time developments and Trump’s insistence on immediate action.
Trump’s second-in-command JD Vance indicated on social media that he might end Iranian enrichment in similar fashion if given the opportunity. This echoed Trump’s earlier sentiments and signaled a potential shift in U.S. policy towards Iran depending on how events unfolded in the coming days.
Reporters allowed Trump to take the reins on his return to Washington. He said he was hopeful of obtaining clearer guidance about what Israel wants to achieve in the near future. He promised that changes would be clearer “within the next 48 hours.” That would indicate that his administration is prepared to do the hard work of influencing outcomes in the Middle East.
“As soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something. But I have to leave here.” – President Donald Trump
