Former President Donald Trump is facing heavy backlash after leaving the G7 summit in Canada earlier than scheduled — and offering what critics are calling a “psychopathic” explanation for his departure.
The annual G7 gathering, which includes leaders from the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, is a cornerstone of global diplomacy and economic cooperation. For more than five decades, it has served as a forum for addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges — from climate change to international security.
So when Trump, who was attending as a returning U.S. president, left the summit unexpectedly on Monday (June 16), just after dinner with fellow heads of state, the political world took notice.
A Vague Explanation — and a Very Loud Exit
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a short statement late Monday night, attributing Trump’s early departure to growing instability in the Middle East.
“Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner,” she wrote in a post on X.
Trump offered a few more words, telling reporters that he had informed summit host and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of his decision and believed the other leaders would “understand.”
“I wish I could stay until tomorrow,” he said. “But they understand — this is big stuff.”
What Trump chose to skip, however, was significant: the official G7 joint statement, which called for a coordinated international response to the conflict unfolding between Israel and Iran — including a ceasefire in Gaza and calls for de-escalation in the region. Trump signed the document before his departure but did not attend the final talks.
Then came the real uproar.
Truth Social Firestorm: Tehran, Macron, and “Much Bigger Than That”
Shortly after landing back in Washington, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, where he launched into a fiery series of posts. He lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron, who had publicly speculated that Trump’s early exit was connected to behind-the-scenes ceasefire negotiations.
“Publicity-seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran. Wrong!” Trump wrote.
“He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”
Critics immediately seized on the tone of Trump’s message, calling it “unhinged,” “irresponsible,” and “petty.”
“He’s insulting our allies again — after whining they won’t let Putin back into the G8,” one commentator wrote, referencing Trump’s past support for restoring Russia’s G8 status after its expulsion in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea.
“Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran”
The outrage grew louder after Trump posted an even more dramatic follow-up message, this time calling for civilians in Iran’s capital to flee:
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life,” he wrote.
“Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
This statement came just days after Israel began launching strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, targeting infrastructure near Tehran. While the United States has not officially taken part in the attacks, Trump’s language has led many to wonder what role — if any — Washington is playing behind the scenes.
His words were especially jarring considering the timing: he had just walked away from a summit that prioritized calming tensions in the region.
Critics Sound the Alarm: “Escalation, Not Diplomacy”
Diplomats and analysts were quick to condemn the former president’s posts, saying they escalate tension rather than reduce it, and calling into question Trump’s motivations and strategy.
“This isn’t foreign policy — it’s provocation with no plan,” said one international relations expert. “Trump is either bluffing or dangerously serious. Either way, this level of rhetoric only adds fuel to the fire.”
Several political opponents described his messaging as reckless and destabilizing, particularly given that Tehran is home to over 9 million civilians.
Others pointed to his failure to clarify what, exactly, the “deal” with Iran was supposed to include, or whether any negotiations had actually taken place.
The “Big Stuff” That Never Materialized
Before leaving the summit, Trump hinted at something major happening behind closed doors.
“Iran wants to make a deal,” he told reporters. “And as soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something.”
But since then, no formal announcement has followed. If a deal was in motion, it appears to have collapsed — or perhaps it never existed at all.
The White House has offered no further clarification.
Donald Trump’s early exit from the G7 summit — and his choice to follow it up with a string of inflammatory posts on social media — has drawn widespread condemnation at home and abroad.
While some supporters continue to praise him for “thinking outside the box,” many in the diplomatic community say Trump’s handling of both the G7 and the Iran crisis raises troubling questions about his judgment, credibility, and commitment to international stability.
In a world already bracing for further conflict in the Middle East, his words carry weight — and, increasingly, a cost.
