Canadian PM Cuts Off Trump at G7

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney intervened to curtail a press conference with Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Alberta on Monday, effectively ending the session as Trump veered into a lengthy discussion of U.S. immigration policy and criticisms of his predecessor. CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes reported that Carney interrupted Trump as the former president began reiterating claims that the Biden administration allowed “murderers, killers, people from gangs, people from jails” into the country, referencing ongoing ICE raids targeting what Trump termed “blue cities.”

Carney, as the G7 chair, asserted his authority, stating he needed to “exercise my role” to ensure the meeting progressed to its scheduled agenda. He politely but firmly indicated the allotted time for questions had expired and the formal discussions needed to begin. Despite continued questioning from the press and Trump’s apparent willingness to continue speaking, the event was swiftly concluded.

Holmes highlighted the significance of Carney’s decisive action, noting it reflected a lesson learned from a previous, more contentious interaction with Trump in May – a meeting in the Oval Office that reportedly escalated in tension as Trump extended the question-and-answer period. According to Holmes, Carney proactively established clear boundaries and a time limit this time, preventing a similar derailment of the G7 agenda.

Typically, meetings between heads of state involve brief exchanges, but Trump has increasingly opened these encounters to extended public questioning with cameras present. Holmes observed that Carney clearly sought to revert to the more traditional, controlled format. This incident underscores the delicate balance leaders face when engaging with Trump, requiring a firm hand to manage potentially disruptive tangents and maintain focus on substantive issues. It’s a clear demonstration of a host nation leader prioritizing the efficiency and purpose of a multilateral summit over allowing a single participant to dominate the narrative.