EVIAN: US President Donald Trump drew attention on the final day of the G7 summit in France on Wednesday after jokingly declaring himself “the boss” as he entered a meeting of world leaders, underscoring his dominant presence at a gathering already shaped by a major diplomatic breakthrough with Iran.
Arriving late to the morning session, Trump told fellow leaders, “I’m the boss,” as he walked into the room where heads of state and government were already seated.
The remark prompted laughter among participants, while French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting the summit, appeared to take the comment in stride before welcoming the US leader.
Trump’s presence has overshadowed much of the three-day summit in the lakeside town of Evian, coming just days after Washington secured a landmark agreement with Iran aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The US president also arrived at the summit amid celebrations surrounding his 80th birthday, further increasing media attention on his activities throughout the gathering.
French officials viewed Trump’s decision to remain for the entire summit as a diplomatic success. The outcome contrasts with a previous G7 meeting in Canada, where he departed before the event concluded and declined to fully support the leaders’ final statement.
This year, Trump endorsed the summit communiqué and participated in all major sessions, easing concerns among allies over potential divisions within the group of advanced economies.
In a further sign of efforts to strengthen transatlantic relations, Macron invited Trump to a private dinner at the Palace of Versailles following the conclusion of the summit.
French officials sought to downplay the symbolism of the event, with Macron stressing beforehand that the gathering would not be a ceremonial gala but rather an opportunity for continued discussions after the formal summit programme.
The G7 meeting has focused on global economic stability, security challenges, energy markets and the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, with Trump’s Iran diplomacy emerging as one of the defining issues of the summit.
As leaders prepared to conclude the gathering, attention increasingly shifted toward the implementation of the US-Iran agreement and its potential impact on regional stability, global energy supplies and international diplomacy.