US President Donald Trump is cutting short his participation at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, due to rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s early departure via social media, citing “many important matters” awaiting the President in Washington.
“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” Leavitt posted on X.
The sudden change in schedule follows Trump’s alarming posts on his platform Truth Social, where he urged civilians in Tehran to “immediately evacuate” as Israel intensified airstrikes on Iranian territory. Trump reiterated his long-held stance that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, warning of “serious consequences” if its nuclear ambitions continue unchecked.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!” Trump posted, warning of imminent danger and calling for immediate civilian evacuation in Tehran.
The situation on the ground in Tehran has grown dire, with Iranian media reporting explosions and heavy air defense activity following Israel’s surprise strikes that began late Thursday. Israel claims to have seized control of the airspace over Tehran and issued evacuation orders for multiple neighborhoods, including areas surrounding Iran’s state television headquarters.
Despite these developments, the US has not joined Israel’s military operations, maintaining a diplomatic line that Trump claimed was still open. At the G7 summit earlier in the day, Trump hinted at possible negotiations with Iran to resolve the conflict diplomatically, stating, “I think a deal will be signed. I think Iran is foolish not to sign one.”
However, signs of disunity emerged among G7 leaders as Trump refused to endorse a joint statement calling for de-escalation and affirming Israel’s right to self-defense. European leaders—France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Britain’s Keir Starmer—had been working to present a united front on the crisis, but Trump’s stance complicated those efforts.
Sources told CNN that the joint statement remained unsigned by Trump as of Monday night, jeopardizing the possibility of a collective G7 position on the conflict.
The escalating Iran-Israel conflict has overshadowed the summit’s economic agenda, including Trump’s own triumph in securing a new US-UK trade deal with Prime Minister Starmer. Despite that success, the crisis in the Middle East has become the dominant issue, prompting Trump’s abrupt departure to manage the unfolding situation.
Iran, for its part, has called upon the US to intervene diplomatically to halt the Israeli bombardment, which has already triggered widespread panic and displacement among Tehran’s 10 million residents.
As President Trump heads back to Washington, uncertainty looms over both the situation in Tehran and the international community’s ability to broker peace amid rising fears of a broader regional war.