US President Donald Trump left no doubt over who he believed was in charge of the G7 summit of world powers in France, chaired by President Emmanuel Macron.
“I’m the boss,” Trump said as he strode in to the morning session of the last day of the three-day G7 summit, with the other leaders already in their seats.
Amid laughter, Macron took the comment with good humour. “How are you?” the French president asked.
“Good, thank you,” replied Trump, a tycoon before becoming president who famously hosted the TV show “The Apprentice” with its catchphrase “You’re fired!” as he finally took his seat.
After signing an agreement to end the war with Iran and celebrating his 80th birthday, Trump’s presence has dominated the summit in the spa town of Evian on Lake Geneva.
French officials will be pleased that the volatile US president stayed for the entire session and signed on to the G7 declaration, as opposed to the previous conference in Canada, where he fled early.
In an extraordinary move, Macron has invited Trump to supper at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris after the summit concludes on Wednesday afternoon.
Macron, under pressure to demonstrate that he is not fawning over Trump, has already stated that the evening at Versailles will not be a “gala” meal.
