Enter Former President Donald Trump, who once more stole the show on the global stage. This was on display at the recent G7 summit. His decisions, rhetoric and surprise tweets made for some of the most fiery exchanges ever witnessed between heads of state. He unexpectedly departed from the summit early under mysterious circumstances. As tensions flared in the Middle East and talks collapsed, Trump’s shadow loomed large on the evening but his presence was a prevailing topic all along.
Trump’s intriguing tweet, sent perhaps from Air Force One in the early morning hours, promised that there was “something coming.” This enigmatic proclamation led to immediate speculation, with reporters scrambling to interpret its meaning. Yet the former president’s flair for the dramatic felt like it punctuated his continued hold on political discussion, even in absentia.
At their joint farewell press conference with Elon Musk, Trump stepped up and calmed the reporters’ fear for Emmanuel Macron but only for a second. This appeared to be an intentional comment to try to keep an element of diplomacy going as the saga continued to unfold around the world. Trump’s early, unexpected exit from the summit left serious concerns about his level of commitment to working with fellow leaders. He never explained if he meant to engage them or just speak by them.
His policies towards the Israel-Palestine clash were further brought to light at the summit. Clearly showing his ignorance on the topic, Trump stated that Republicans and Democrats “should both sign [his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s proposed] peace deal.” Still, underscoring the precariousness of the moment, both Israel and Palestine have historically been opposed to agreements like this. Later, after he’d returned, Trump claimed that he had to cut the summit short in order to focus on brokering a ceasefire. He did not provide any details on how he plans to achieve this ambitious goal.
Trump was deeply engaged in the chaotic discussions that formed the narrative. He didn’t demonstrate any willingness to solve the damages from his past deeds. As one of those observers, it was striking to see the ways in which he remains the focal point—especially in international relations. Almost everything circles back to him. These moves aren’t just about the U.S. Trump’s often arbitrary decisions and belligerent statements tend to set the tone for global leaders’ discussions.
In an unprecedented step, Trump then called for evacuation of Tehran, he demanded that all Iranians “immediately evacuate.” This directive provided an extra layer of urgency to an already combustible situation in the Middle East. His chief envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Iranian leaders in the days after this announcement, indicating a major turnaround in diplomatic strategy. Trump proposed that America’s Vice President JD Vance, not Secretary of State, go directly to Iranian officials. If its release is any guide, this proposal marks the beginning of a move toward a more muscular and interventionist foreign policy.
On the trade front, Trump made waves by signing a as-yet-undefined US-UK trade deal. He undertook this project in concert with British politician Keir Starmer. During a media photocall of sorts where he announced the deal, Trump was giddy with enthusiasm. Amidst all of this commotion, he mistakenly let the trade papers fall to the floor. This misstep served as a reminder of the high stakes behind the negotiations.
Trump’s comments related to Iran’s nuclear program were equally bewildering. His amazement at Iran’s failure to agree to a treaty that would entail the near-total destruction of its nuclear program was palpable. This sort of thinking betrays the administration’s long-standing aversion to Iran and is similar to past moves during his presidency. The latest eruption of tensions in the region has not escaped the gaze of financial markets. Trump’s stock market has no stomach for the increasing belligerence. Now that Israel has begun striking military and nuclear installations in Iran, this has become particularly apparent.