Trump jokes ‘I’m the boss’ as G7 leaders gather in France
TLE DESK: US President Donald Trump drew laughter from fellow leaders at the G7 summit in France on Wednesday after jokingly declaring, “I’m the boss,” as he entered a meeting on the final day of the gathering.
The remark came as Trump walked into the morning session in Evian-les-Bains, where leaders of the world’s major industrialised nations had already taken their seats.
French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting the three-day summit, appeared to take the comment in stride and responded with a smile.
“How are you?” Macron asked.
“Good, thank you,” Trump replied before taking his seat, prompting laughter among those present.
Trump’s presence has dominated the summit, coming just days after the announcement of a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East and shortly after the US president celebrated his 80th birthday.
The summit, held in the French spa town of Evian on the shores of Lake Geneva, has focused heavily on the Iran deal, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
French officials are expected to view the summit as a diplomatic success, particularly after Trump remained for the entire event and endorsed the final G7 communiqué. At the previous G7 summit in Canada, Trump departed before the meeting concluded.
In a further sign of improving relations, Macron has invited Trump to a private dinner at the historic Palace of Versailles outside Paris following the summit’s conclusion on Wednesday.
However, Macron sought to downplay the significance of the event, stressing that the evening gathering would not be a formal state banquet or “gala” dinner.
The G7 summit brought together leaders from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the European Union to discuss major global challenges, including security, energy and economic stability.
