Donald Trump reveals the real reason he rushed home from the G7 in Canada while bombs fell on Tehran
President Trump gave a new reason for his sudden departure from G7 meetings in Canada amid the escalating fight between Israel and Iran.
The president told reporters aboard Air Force One he plans to hold 'early' meetings with his security team in the White House Situation Room, after issuing a stunning call for people to 'evacuate' Tehran amid Israeli bomb attacks there.
But the president travels with a cordon of aides and high-tech equipment, giving him the ability to monitor or direct events from anywhere in the world – including the summit he left after participating for a single day.
Trump said he wanted to leave the tranquil mountain lodge in Alberta because he didn't rely on phones.
'Just be a little bit more, I think, well versed. Not having to use telephones so much,' Trump said, when asked why he bailed. 'Because I don't believe in telephones. Because people like you listen to them. Being on the scene is much better. And we did everything I had to do at the G7.'
Trump has long been known to take steps to avoid writing things down. But he also does a lot of work on the phone, taking calls from a string of reporters when his feud with Elon Musk erupted weeks ago.
Shortly before taking off, Trump blasted French President Emmanuel Macron, who had told French reporters Trump had told him he was pushing a cease fire plan.
'I'm not looking at cease fire. We're looking at better than cease fire,' Trump said.
Trump said the reality was the opposite. But when pressed by the Daily Mail, Trump didn't name any new steps the U.S. was taking to help Isreal as it battles the Islamic Republic.
'An end. A real end. Not a cease fire. An end,' he said.
Asked if he was open to a deal with Iran, Trump indicated he had lost his interest.
' Their cities have been blown to pieces – lost a lot of people. They should have done the deal. I told them do the deal. So I don't know, I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate now,' Trump said.
The president snapped at CNN's Kaitlan Collins when she asked him if there was any 'guarantee' that the US could successfully take out Iran's nuclear if it got involved in the fight.
'Look at you. There's no guarantee,' Trump said. He also called her 'fake news.'
Trump was coy when asked by the Daily Mail if Israel, which has obtained air superiority, would now accelerate its attacks on Iran.
'You're going to find out over the next two days, right? You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far,' he said.
Trump also explained his stunning decision to call on Iranians to evacuate Tehran, after his online post Monday sent thousands more fleeing while Israeli bombing operations continues.
'I just want people to be safe,' Trump said, without previewing any further actions.
'I think they know not to touch our troops,' Trump said when asked about any new threats to U.S. interests in the region.
Despite the tough talk, Trump didn't rule out overtures, including Vice President JD Vance and negotiator Steve Witkoff talking to the Iranians.
'They may. Depends on what happens when I get back,' said Trump .
On another conflict, Trump said he hadn't heard about the latest Russian attack on an apartment building in Kiev that killed at least 14. The news broke shortly before Air Force One took off, while Trump traveled there by helicopter late Monday after a day of meetings.
Trump's decision had him flying home with Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio as well as other top aides. He had to scrap planned meetings with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
As he returned home from a summit Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies, Asked how visiting the bucolic setting impacted his push to make Canada the 51st U.S state, Trump revealed some acceptance of the status quo.
'I think it's a much better deal for Canada. But you know it's up to them. They're going to have to pay a lot of tariffs and things. They're going to have to pay a lot of money for the dome. For the Iron Dome. They want to be a part of it,' Trump said.
He was referring to his 'Golden Dome,' his take on Israel's 'Iron Dome,' although some experts have already said it won't work.
'We may make a separate deal on that, by the way. We discussed that, yeah, on the dome. May be a separate deal. They want to be at $71 billion they're going to pay. They'll be in the dome. They'll be under the dome.,' Trump said.
Canada has given no indication it would participate to that extent financially. Its ambassador to U.S. called Trump's demand that it pay $61 billion a 'protection racket.'
In an extraordinary outburst, Trump tore into Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz (D), who has been eulogizing a former House speaker who got shot a state senator and her husband who got shot. Trump appeared to fault Waltz for once hirin the suspect as an administtration.
Asked if he would call Watlz, Trump responded: 'I don't really call him. Look, he appointed this guy to a position. I think the governor of Minnesota's so whacked out. I'm not calling him. Why would I call him? I could call him – say: 'Hi, how you doing?' The guy doesn't have a clue. He's a mess. So I could be nice and call him, but why waste time.'
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