President Trump arrived late to Wednesday’s morning G7 meeting but wasn’t fazed as he walked into the session already in progress, declaring to his fellow leaders he was the “boss.”
The rest of the G7 leaders were seated and were beginning their discussion on economic issues when Trump walked into the room.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed him with, “Oh, hello, Mr. President.”
Trump paused on his way to his seat and declared, “I’m the boss” as everyone laughed.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was seated at the American place at the table but quickly vacated after Trump’s arrival, letting the president sit down.
Trump had a busy morning, posting on his Truth Social account where he praised Tuesday night’s primary results for Republicans and announced he was temporarily withdrawing Jay Clayton’s nomination as DNI director.
That shocking news — which came a few hours before Clayton was scheduled to testify before Congress on Wednesday — puts Senate Republicans in a tough bind.
First, it will allow Trump’s temporary pick, Bill Pulte, to run the DNI — something members of both parties objected to given Pulte’s lack of experience in the national security realm.
Additionally, Trump listed several other demands before he would renominate Clayton, including that the Senate confirm his pick to replace Clayton as U.S. attorney, James McDonald, and that lawmakers pass his voting rights agenda, known as The Save America Act, along with the FISA reauthorization.
“I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The demands put Senate Republican Leader John Thune in a bind.
Holding onto a thin majority and trying to keep control of the upper chamber in the upcoming midterm election, Thune has warned the president there is little appetite among lawmakers for the voting bill and that attaching it to the critical reauthorization would simply kill both measures.
But Trump continued his boss moves on Wednesday when he tried to take over the morning G7 session — the final day of meetings for the leaders of France, US, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Japan.
When Macron tried to start the session,Trump interrupted, inviting members of the media to stay.
“Would you like to stay for the meeting? It’s ok with me,” he said.
But French officials promptly escorted the press out.
As the press were leaving, Trump could be heard saying, “It’s too hot in here.”
Trump had strained relations with many of the leaders in the run-up to the G7, but things appear to have improved over the three-day summit.
All the leaders praised his deal with Iran, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave him a belated birthday gift — a soccer jersey emblazoned with “Trump” and “47.”
The leaders also were able to come together on Tuesday to offer their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Trump even held a one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which wasn’t previously on his schedule and agreed to release weapons sales to Kyiv.
