President Donald Trump slammed former President Barack Obama and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for booting Russia from the G8 in 2014. He called it a “very big mistake” that helped pave the way for war between Russia and Ukraine.
“The G7 used to be the G8. Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in,” Trump said Monday from the G7 summit in Canada. Standing alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump added, “I would say that that was a mistake because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia.”
Trump argued the war also wouldn’t exist if he had been president four years ago. “But it didn’t work out that way,” he said. “But it used to be the G8.”
Russia was expelled from the G8 after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Trump, though not in politics at the time, said he had been vocal about the decision. “They threw Russia out, which I claimed was a very big mistake, even though I wasn’t in politics then,” he said.
He emphasized that he’s not suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin be brought into this year’s summit. But he doubled down on calling the original decision a blunder. “Obama didn’t want them and the head of your country, the proud head of your country, didn’t want him. This was a big mistake,” he said.
“You wouldn’t have that war. You know, you have your enemy at the table… he wasn’t really an enemy at that time. There was no concept,” Trump said. “If I were president, this war would have never happened.”
The summit kicked off Monday in Alberta, Canada. Leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the EU, and the UK are attending — representing seven of the world’s largest economies. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are also at the event.
This marks Trump’s first G7 summit of his second term. The top issue on the table? Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Last week, Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran. It was part of “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. At least four Iranian military leaders were killed.
Iran called the move a “declaration of war” and fired back. Their strikes have hit residential areas and caused multiple casualties. Locals have been killed and buried in rubble.
Trump said Iran needs to return to the negotiating table. “They’d like to talk, but they should have done that before,” he told reporters. “They have to make a deal. And they should talk immediately before it’s too late.”
The summit is also expected to focus on trade and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.