Trump misses climate meeting and says he’ll invite Putin to next G7 amid erratic behaviour at summit
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has skipped a meeting about climate change and biodiversity attended by other world leaders at the G7 on Monday, in the latest sign that the American government does not view the global threat as a priority.
Separately, meeting German chancellor Angela Merkel, the US president claimed there was “great unity” on how to deal with the Iran crisis. Ms Merkel, however, said there was a long way to go on the issue, which has created considerable headache as tensions have flared between Tehran and Washington.
The snubs came just before Mr Trump attended a joint press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders claimed to have found unity on many issues — from Iranian nuclear enrichment, to trade.
Later, after Mr Macron left the stage, the American president stuck around for a few questions, where he lavished praise on Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and at one point called himself an "environmentalist".
Mr Trump has also denied at the summit in France that he had suggested firing nuclear weapons at hurricanes — as was reported by Axios — and suggested his own Miami golf club for next year’s G7. He also claimed China had “called” to ask for trade talks – before a top Chinese official said he was unaware of any call.
Elsewhere, the 2020 Democratic primary field saw some heat, with a new poll showing Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden all in a statistical dead heat among national voters.
The poll marked a potentially dramatic fall for Mr Biden from the top of the race, and came after Ms Warren attracted a massive crowd in Seattle — one that has received plenty of media attention for its striking visuals.
Also, Mr Trump's own party's primary field has gotten a bit tighter, with the long-shot entry of former congressman Joe Walsh, a one-time Trump supporter who claims the president has simply gotten too cozy with Russia.
"I know one thing, if they were invited back, I think they'd be there. If they weren't, that's ok too. I just think they would be better inside than outside," Mr Trump says when asked about Russia rejoining the international group.
"I feel that the United States has tremendous wealth, the wealth is under its feet. I've made that wealth come alive. We will soon be exporting... we are now the number one energy producer int he world ad soon it will be by far with a couple of pipelines that have not been able to be approved," Mr Trump says when asked about his position on climate change.
"I'm not gonna lose that wealth, I'm not gonna lose it on dreams," Mr Trump continues, before saying he wants the cleanest water and air "on earth".
Mr Trump continues: "I am an environmentalist", before noting he has had to do environmental impact statements for his real estate holdings.
Here's a full quote from Donald Trump earlier, when discussing potentially inviting Vladimir Putin to next year's G7 summit:
“Well I don’t know that he’d accept it, those are tough circumstances. He was a part of G8, and all of a sudden, he’s not in. So I think John, actually that’s a pretty tough thing for him, you know, he’s a proud person. Would I invite him, I would certainly invite him, whether or not he could come, psychologically, I think that’s a tough thing for him to do. You have a G8, and now it’s a G7, and you invite the person that was thrown our really by President Obama, and really because he got outsmarted."
Earlier today, during Mr Trump's press conference, he heaped praise on the United Kingdom, naming off his many properties in the country.
One problem: He also named one of his resorts that's in, well, Ireland.
That resort? The Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland.
Donald Trump has been mocked for saying he wants to buy Greenland, but he is getting at least some support from Republicans in Congress.
Senator Tom Cotton had the following to say, in an op-ed published in the New York Times today: "After news leaked last week that President Trump had expressed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark, his critics predictably derided him as crazy. But once again, the president is crazy like a fox."
Earlier today, another Republican congressman announced he is leaving his post — the latest in a wave of retirements during the Trump administration.
Sean Duffy, of Wisconsin, said he is leaving, and that he looks forward to spending time with his family.
Mr Duffy's seat is considered to be a fairly balanced Republican-Democratic district, meaning the seat is very much in play for the 2020 election.
To anyone dreaming of what might have happened had Hillary Clinton won in 2016, here's a bit of insight:
In case you missed this latest Twitter tiff, built upon by Donald Trump earlier.
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