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President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he departs the White House June 8, 2018 in Washington, DC.
Before calling for Moscow to be reinstated in the talks, Trump aimed to pre-empt allegations that he is too lenient with Russia.
“I have been Russia’s worst nightmare,” he said, contending that Moscow would have been elated if Democrat Hillary Clinton had won the presidency.
Before Trump’s statements Friday morning, G-7 allies even threatened to distance themselves from Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron said the group’s six other members — France, Canada, Italy, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom — could exclude Trump from a joint statement following the summit.
“The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be. Because these 6 countries represent values, they represent an economic market which has the weight of history behind it and which is now a true international force,” Macron tweeted.
Trump has lashed out at global trading partners ahead of the meetings in Canada. He contends barriers put up by allies have damaged American companies and workers.
“Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!” the president tweeted on Friday morning.
Trump tweet: Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!
On Thursday night, he called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “indignant” for bringing up the strong relationship between the U.S. and Canada — despite trade practices that the president alleged hurt American farmers.
On Friday, Trump once again said he would scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement if the U.S., Canada and Mexico cannot strike a revised deal. His administration says failure to reach a new agreement contributed to its decision not to exempt Canada and Mexico from the tariffs on metals.
