US President Donald Trump said his early departure from the Group of Seven leaders meeting in Canada has “nothing to do” with working on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, instead saying his reason is “much bigger than that.”

In comments to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump later said he wants a “real end” to the nuclear problem with Iran, including the country “giving up entirely” on the idea of nuclear weapons and their existing nuclear program “wiped out,” rather than simply obtaining a ceasefire in the region, according to CBS. 

Trump hasn’t clearly spelled out his next steps as he returns to the US capital. 

While world leaders met in Alberta, Israel continued to bombard Iran in a bid to disable its nuclear program. And Iran fired masses of missiles and launched drones at Israel in retaliation. Trump earlier Monday warned residents of Tehran to evacuate the city, while also telling Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and seek a deal. 

Trump, asked about his call for a Tehran evacuation, said he wants people to be safe, CBS said, adding that Israel hasn’t slowed up on its barrage on Iran.

The president also told reporters that he “may” send a high-level official such as Steven Witkoff, his special envoy for the Middle East, or Vice President JD Vance to meet with Iran, CBS reported, adding that “it depends what happens when I get back.” 

Asked if Iran’s nuclear program would be destroyed if the US got involved in the conflict militarily, Trump said he hopes it’s “wiped out long before that,” CBS said. Trump reiterated a warning to Iran that they should avoid retaliating against the US, saying he’s prepared to “come down so hard” on Iran if they “do anything to our people,” according to CBS. 

French President Emmanuel Macron previously suggested to reporters in Canada Monday that Trump’s early departure from the G-7 meeting could mean a positive development in the ongoing conflict, saying that “if the US can obtain a ceasefire that is a good thing.”

Trump, in the Truth Social post, said Macron was wrong about his intentions. 

“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran. Wrong!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post sent at 1:15 a.m. Washington time on Tuesday, shortly after boarding Air Force One for his flight to the US capital.

“He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that,” Trump wrote. “Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was leaving for Washington “so he can attend to many important matters,” and in a follow-up post on X said the departure was due to “what’s going on in the Middle East.”

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Published on June 17, 2025