BANFF, Canada — President Donald Trump opened the 2025 Group of Seven leaders’ summit by complaining it was a “mistake” for the multilateral organization to remove Russia from its ranks.
“The G7 used to be the G8. [Former President] Barack Obama and a person named [former Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in, and I would say that was a mistake because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
Russia was pushed out of the G7 in 2014 in response to its annexation of Crimea. More than a decade later, the country is now in an all-out war with Ukraine.
“What’s that? Nine years ago, eight years ago, it switched over,” Trump said. “They threw Russia out, which I claimed was a very big mistake, even though I wasn’t in politics then, I was very loud about it. It was a mistake in that you spend so much time talking about Russia, but he’s no longer at the table, so it makes life more complicated.”
Trump made the comments during his first appearance at this year’s G7 summit, which Canada is hosting in Kananaskis. He was beside Trudeau’s successor, Mark Carney.
Carney welcomed reporters into the room amid his bilateral meeting with Trump, who turned 79 on Saturday. Carney wished the president a happy birthday.
Trump was then peppered with questions regarding trade and Iran. Concerning trade, the president underscored his position as “a tariff person” because duties are “easy,” “precise,” and can be imposed “quickly,” though he hoped he and Carney could address their “different concepts” during their meeting.
On Iran, Trump confirmed reports that Tehran is trying to de-escalate with Israel, saying it “is not winning this war” and recommending that “they should talk immediately before it’s too late.” Before the Trump-Carney meeting, it was also reported that the United States is unlikely to sign a G7 statement related to Iran and Israel as it seeks to strike a new nuclear deal with Tehran.
A White House official told the Washington Examiner of the Iran-Israel statement: “Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world. President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.”
When asked, Trump added that China should also be included in the G7, along with Russia.
Carney ended press access to his meeting with Trump by attempting to retake control of the room, telling reporters asking the president questions that he was exercising “my role as G7 chair.”
While tariffs are the focal point of the G7 summit, the war between Russia and Ukraine, in addition to Israel’s conflicts with Hamas and now Iran, are simultaneously on the agenda for the leaders to discuss.
To that end, Russian President Vladimir Putin was not invited to the summit, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is one of several non-G7 leaders who are or will be in attendance.
THE G7 SUMMIT: WHO AND WHAT TO KNOW
Trump’s bilateral meeting with Carney is one of three expected during the G7 summit, which concludes on Tuesday. He is also anticipated to take part in longer sit downs with Zelensky and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Zelensky is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Sheinbaum will arrive on Monday.
Trump will have more casual “pull-asides” with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday as well.
