World Leaders Tread Softly Around The Bombastic Trump At The G7

26 August 2019, France (France), Biarritz: Emmanuel Macron (M), President of France, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU, r-l), Justin Trudeau (concealed), Prime Minister of Canada, Boris Johnson (concealed), Prime... 26 August 2019, France (France), Biarritz: Emmanuel Macron (M), President of France, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU, r-l), Justin Trudeau (concealed), Prime Minister of Canada, Boris Johnson (concealed), Prime Minister of Great Britain, Antonio Guterrez, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy, Shinzo Abe, Prime Ministers The G7 leaders of Japan and Donald Trump, President of the USA, are sitting together for talks on the last day of the G7 summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa (Photo by Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

After over two years with President Donald Trump to contend with, world leaders are wising up to his tendencies and taking pains to avoid confrontation like that which blew up last year’s G7 in Canada.

According to the New York Times, many leaders opted for disagreement cushioned in flattery this time, rather than direct confrontation which causes the thin-skinned President to bristle.

So far, it’s seemed to work. Trump gushed about the summit during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and his interactions with other leaders have seemed largely friendly.

“Thus far, this has been really a great G-7,” he said on Sunday. “And I want to congratulate France and your president because they have really done a great job.”

Of course, Trump tends to save his criticism for twitter when he’s safely miles away from those he’s insulting, so any absolute conclusions may have to wait for his plane ride home Monday night.

Latest News
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: