Trump misses climate meeting and says he’ll invite Putin to next G7 amid erratic behaviour at summit
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has skipped a meeting about climate change and biodiversity attended by other world leaders at the G7 on Monday, in the latest sign that the American government does not view the global threat as a priority.
Separately, meeting German chancellor Angela Merkel, the US president claimed there was “great unity” on how to deal with the Iran crisis. Ms Merkel, however, said there was a long way to go on the issue, which has created considerable headache as tensions have flared between Tehran and Washington.
The snubs came just before Mr Trump attended a joint press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders claimed to have found unity on many issues — from Iranian nuclear enrichment, to trade.
Later, after Mr Macron left the stage, the American president stuck around for a few questions, where he lavished praise on Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and at one point called himself an "environmentalist".
Mr Trump has also denied at the summit in France that he had suggested firing nuclear weapons at hurricanes — as was reported by Axios — and suggested his own Miami golf club for next year’s G7. He also claimed China had “called” to ask for trade talks – before a top Chinese official said he was unaware of any call.
Elsewhere, the 2020 Democratic primary field saw some heat, with a new poll showing Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden all in a statistical dead heat among national voters.
The poll marked a potentially dramatic fall for Mr Biden from the top of the race, and came after Ms Warren attracted a massive crowd in Seattle — one that has received plenty of media attention for its striking visuals.
Also, Mr Trump's own party's primary field has gotten a bit tighter, with the long-shot entry of former congressman Joe Walsh, a one-time Trump supporter who claims the president has simply gotten too cozy with Russia.
"Well I'll tell you what, I've spent and I think I will in a combination of loss and opportunity probably it will cost me anywhere form 3 to 5 billion dollars to be president and the only thing I care about is this country," Mr Trump says when asked how he can assure the American people that he will not profit off of the presidency.
Mr Trump then complains he used to make money off of speeches, but now makes "zippo".
Mr Trump says his Miami resort has "bungalows" and "incredible rooms".
"I don't want to make money. I don't care about making money," he says.
Mr Trump says that "each country can have their own villa, their own bungalow" of a possible G7 at his Miami resort next year
Mr Trump says he is not open to the idea of giving compensation to Iran for a deal.
"We are not paying, we don't pay. But they may need some money to get them over a very rough patch."
Says any loan to Iran would be secured by oil, and that any credit would come form "numerous" countries.
Mr Trump says "I don't care politically" and that "a lot of people don't understand this", when asked if he is worried about the political fallout of inviting Russia to a G7 meeting.
"A lot of people say having Russia which is a power, having them inside the room is better than having them outside the room," he says.
"You can't draw red lines in the sand, you just can't do it," Mr Trump said, criticising his predecessor.
Mr Trump says that Crimea was "taken away from president Obama, not taken away from president, taken away from president Obama".
Mr Trump says that "president Putin outsmarted president Obama" by annexing Crimea, which was not a US territory, in spite of the previous statement.
"I do nothing for politics. I do what's right. And people like what I do, but I do what's right. If I wanted to go strictly by politics I would probably poll that," Mr Trump says of bringing Russia back into the G7 (it would be a G8 then).
Mr Trump, when asked why he is spreading a lie, doubles down.
Says he would apologise if Crimea were annexed during his presidency.
"President Obama was pure and simply outsmarted, they took Crimea during his term. ... It could have been stopped, but president Obama was unable to stop it, and it's too bad."
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