Trump to leave G7 earlier than expected

President Trump decided to leave the Group of Seven summit Monday night, a day earlier than scheduled, and return to Washington due to the escalating war between Israel and Iran.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr. Trump’s abrupt departure from the gathering in Canada was “because of what’s going on in the Middle East.”

Shortly before the announcement, Mr. Trump had urged on social media for residents of Tehran to “immediately evacuate,” amid a fifth day of missile attacks and bombings by the Israeli military. Hundreds of Iranians have been killed, and air strikes have also killed numerous Israelis.

The conflict started last week after U.S.-Iran talks had failed to achieve a breakthrough on Tehran’s nuclear enrichment program, which is suspected of working toward nuclear weapons.

The U.S. and Israel have said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Mr. Trump has threatened that it will not be good for Iran if they continue to delay the signing of an agreement to end their building of a nuclear weapon.

Still, Mr. Trump has tried to distance the U.S. from Israel’s campaign.

The G7, held in Alberta, will conclude on Tuesday. But after a day of participating in various sessions, and bilateral meetings with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mr. Trump decided to head back to the White House Monday night.