Trump Declares "I Am the Leader" at G7 Summit in France

Despite French President Emmanuel Macron presiding over the G7 summit hosted by France, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on asserting his dominance on Wednesday by declaring "I am the leader" as he entered the morning session on the final day of the summit.

The remark drew laughter from the attending leaders and officials, while Macron appeared to receive the comment in good spirits, greeting Trump with "How are you?" to which Trump replied, "Good, thank you," before taking his seat.

The atmosphere of the summit, held in Évian, France, overlooking Lake Geneva, was largely influenced by Trump’s presence following the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the Middle East conflict and his celebration of his 80th birthday on Sunday.

Contrasting with the previous summit in Canada, which he left early, the American president, known for his unpredictable temperament and self-confidence, remained present throughout the three-day event in France and signed the final communiqué of the group, which includes seven major industrialized nations.

In an unusual gesture, Macron invited Trump to dine at the Palace of Versailles near Paris following the conclusion of the summit’s activities on Wednesday.