Donald Trump is cutting his visit to the G7 summit short, heading back to Washington early on Monday due to the rapidly intensifying Middle East crisis, according to US officials. The situation is growing more volatile as tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, with speculation mounting over possible US involvement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump would still participate in the traditional G7 family photo and attend a leaders’ dinner in Alberta, Canada, but will leave a day ahead of schedule.
The decision to leave early follows a dramatic turn in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. On Truth Social, Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran residents, urging them to evacuate immediately — echoing an earlier evacuation order by Israeli forces, who warned civilians in several Tehran districts to flee ahead of what they described as imminent strikes on military infrastructure.
This sudden shift is a blow to G7 organizers, who had hoped to secure a unified statement urging de-escalation in the region, with US backing seen as crucial. A draft of the statement, shared by an insider, asserted that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon, acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself, and pushed for a negotiated solution on Iran’s nuclear program.
Reaffirming his stance, Trump posted:
“AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
He also hinted at being drawn into a mediator role, suggesting talks could soon be underway:
“They want to make a deal and as soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something. But I have to leave here,” he said. “It’s always better to talk in person.”
Back in Washington, alarm bells are ringing over fears that the US could be pulled directly into the conflict — or that it could spiral into a larger regional war.
Israel’s military began its campaign targeting air defenses, nuclear facilities, and command structures. But four days in, the offensive seems to be shifting into a grueling war of attrition.
Adding fuel to the fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a chilling declaration on Monday: the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would “end the conflict.”
Following Friday’s surprise Israeli strikes, Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli cities, focusing on densely populated zones between Tel Aviv and the port of Haifa. In a bold move, Tehran also threatened to withdraw from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Though not yet directly involved, the US military posture is shifting. On Monday, the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group was rerouted from the South China Sea to the Middle East, placing two US carriers in the region alongside the USS Carl Vinson.
Additionally, two US Navy destroyers stationed in the Mediterranean were moved closer to Israel to safeguard American assets, while dozens of air force refueling aircraft were deployed to Europe over the weekend to support any forthcoming Middle East operations.