Trump upends conference, derides Trudeau as ‘weak’

LA MALBAIE, Quebec — President Trump threw the G-7 summit into disarray Saturday, tweeting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is “dishonest & weak” and that the U.S. is pulling back its endorsement of the group’s communique in part because of what he called Trudeau’s “false statements” at a news conference.

In an extraordinary set of tweets aboard Air Force One, on his way to Singapore for next week’s summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Trump lashed out just as Canada released the G-7’s official communique. Its statement took a generally positive view of the leaders’ positions on trade matters while acknowledging tensions with the U.S.

A few hours earlier, Trudeau had told reporters that all seven leaders had come together to sign the joint declaration.

Trump tweeted: “Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!”

He followed up by tweeting: “PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, ‘US Tariffs were kind of insulting’ and he ‘will not be pushed around.’ Very dishonest & weak.”

In a statement, a spokesman for Trudeau did not address Trump’s insults. “We are focused on everything we accomplished here at the #G7 summit,” spokesman Cameron Ahmad said.

As he exited the world summit, Trump had delivered a stark warning to America’s trading partners not to counter his decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. But the summit host, Trudeau, whose nation was among those singled out by Trump, pushed back and said he would not hesitate to retaliate against his neighbor to the south.

“If they retaliate, they’re making a mistake,” Trump declared before departing the annual Group of Seven summit, which also includes Britain, Italy, France, Germany and Japan.

Speaking Saturday during a rare solo news conference, Trump said he pressed for the G-7 countries to eliminate all tariffs, trade barriers and subsidies in their trading practices. He reiterated his view that the U.S. has been taken advantage of in global trade, adding, “We’re like the piggy bank that everybody’s robbing.”

Before his arrival Friday, the president injected additional controversy by suggesting that the G-7 offer a seat at the table to Russia, which was ousted from the group in 2014.

Catherine Lucey, Rob Gillies and Ken Thomas are Associated Press writers.