By Isabella Torregiani
2:52am PDT, Jun 18, 2025
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On Monday, June 16, President
Donald Trump called it a "mistake" to have removed Russia from the G7, the annual international summit of world leaders.
He went on to say he'd also be open to including Chinese President
Xi Jinping in future discussions.
Keep reading for more details on Trump's reasoning… MORE:
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President Donald Trump is pushing for President Vladimir Putin to be reinstated in the G7, which was previously known as the G8 when Russia was part of the group.
"The G7 used to be the G8. Barack Obama and a person named [ex-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau] didn't want to have Russia in," Trump falsely claimed at the international security meeting. (Trudeau wasn't prime minster of Canada until 2015, a year after Russia was expelled.)
Trump has opposed Russia's 2014 expulsion following its invasion of Crimea, adding, "I would say that that was a mistake, because I think you wouldn't have a war right now if you had Russia in, and you wouldn't have a war right now if Trump were president four years ago."
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President Donald Trump claimed that he's not the only one bothered by Russia's removal.
"Vladimir Putin speaks to me. He doesn't speak to anybody else," he said. "He doesn't want to talk because he was very insulted when he was thrown out of the G8 — as I would be, as you would be, as anybody would be."
While Trump believes Russia should return, he said he's also open to expanding the group further. When asked later if China should be considered, the president didn't rule it out.
"Well, it's not a bad idea. I don't mind that. If somebody wants to suggest China coming in, I think we suggest, but you want people that you can talk to," he said.
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While President Donald Trump wants the return of Russia to the summit, not every world leader is on board.
German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz rejected the idea
on X, writing, "The pressure on Russia must be increased."
Following a private exchange with Trump ahead of the summit, Merz added, "We are looking for ways to end the escalation in the Middle East and discussing the war against Ukraine."
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While attending the G7 alongside leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the European Union and the United Kingdom, President Donald Trump expressed his optimism about the summit's potential.
"I think we're going to accomplish a lot, and I expect to, and I think our primary focus will be trade and trade with Canada, and I'm sure we can work something out," he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed the president's hopeful message, adding, "Nostalgia isn't a strategy. We have to change with the times and build a better world. And some of you, such as you, Mr. President, have anticipated these massive changes and are taking bold measures to address them."
