U.S. President Donald Trump decided to return early from the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Canada due to escalating military conflict between Israel and Iran, the White House announced on the 16th (local time).
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced that "President Trump will return to Washington tonight so that he can focus on many important issues." Leavitt also posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "President Trump achieved many results at the G7, and because of the situation in the Middle East, he will return after the dinner tonight."
President Trump was originally scheduled to attend the G7 meeting from the 15th to the 17th, but his schedule has been moved up, allowing for an early return. This G7 meeting was the first multilateral summit abroad that President Trump attended since he returned to the White House in January.
The White House's decision is interpreted as a judgment that the situation in the Middle East is urgent and serious. On the same day, Israeli forces reportedly conducted airstrike operations targeting Iranian military facilities in the 'Zone 3' area north of Tehran, and Iranian media reported that the state broadcaster's headquarters was hit twice.
As soon as President Trump arrives at the White House, he instructed that the National Security Council (NSC) be convened in order to prepare the situation room, Fox News host Lawrence Jones reported via social media.
Amid the intensifying Israeli offensive against Iran, which has brought up the possibility of regime change, whether the U.S. will intervene militarily is expected to be officially discussed at the NSC.
Meanwhile, President Trump's early return raises the likelihood that a planned summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during the G7 meeting will not take place.