Donald Trump accused of ignoring translation during Italian Prime Minister’s G7 summit speech

DONALD Trump is under fire again after what looks like a glaring gaffe during the Italian Prime Minister’s speech at the G7 summit.

A row has developed over whether Donald Trump was paying attention at the G7 summit.

DONALD Trump has been accused of not listening to a live translation of his host’s speech at the G7 summit in Italy.

As Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni spoke, other world leaders were paying close attention to his words through their headpieces.

But the US President was not wearing the same bulky headphones and appeared distracted as Mr Gentiloni talked.

A short clip that sums up this G7 summit: look who has chosen not to hear a translation of his Italian host's speech #G6 pic.twitter.com/6pXbBlfvof

— James Landale (@BBCJLandale) May 27, 2017

BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale tweeted a video with the words: “A short clip that sums up this G7 summit: look who has chosen not to hear a translation of his Italian host’s speech.”

But White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Mr Trump was indeed listening, but was wearing a single earpiece in his right ear that was not visible in the clip.

The debate has triggered some super sleuthing online.

Some called the claim “fake news”, sharing images of the President wearing his earbud and with it in front of him on the table during the summit.

@BBCJLandale ALL YOU KNOW TO DO IS LIE😂😂😂#Libtards the PATHOLOGICAL LIARS pic.twitter.com/dtKMP1C9wy

— Jules (@JulesRollTide) May 27, 2017

@jwilson_detroit @karleen_m @BBCJLandale Do you? The point is has worn the SAME ONE EVERY DAY in his mtgs. This FakeNews has Already been retracted per Usual. pic.twitter.com/BylJJfKvLQ

— Jules (@JulesRollTide) May 28, 2017

@BBCJLandale He wears an earpiece in his right ear you propagandist. pic.twitter.com/mzy4YAmBG5

— Nick Short (@PoliticalShort) May 27, 2017

@BBCJLandale . yep pic.twitter.com/JZMEYAKErf

— (((L. Faccioli))) (@lfaccioli75) May 27, 2017

Bloomberg’s White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs said the BBC’s claim was incorrect and the President was listening to foreign leaders, adding that his team was “not happy” at the “false reporting”.

Trump was indeed listening to foreign leaders via a translation earpiece.
White House not happy there was false reporting otherwise. https://t.co/t589XTIhP5

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 27, 2017

But Brian Abrams shared another video that shows the President turning his head at 2:16 mark with no visible earpiece.

@ShaneGoldmacher @PressSec also, 2:16 mark. is his special small earpiece wireless? https://t.co/LuvV5fFN3k

— Brian Abrams (@BrianAbrams) May 27, 2017

In February, the President did not wear a translation earpiece as he nodded along to remarks from Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at the White House, the Guardian reported.

Asked if he had been wearing one, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: “I don’t believe during that time. But he did see the text and they spoke quite extensively before the remarks.”

Mr Trump put a small speaker to his right ear during the subsequent question and answer session with journalists, some of them Japanese.

There were also questions this week about his behaviour around the six other heads of state during the summit in Sicily. The US President hung back while the others chatted during a short walk between events.

In a tweet posted on the final day of his trip, Mr Trump said he would make a final decision on whether the US will stay in the Paris climate agreement next week.

The surprise announcement came after teh President declined to commit to abiding by the deal despite intense international pressure and the other six G7 members reportedly voting in favour.

I will make my final decision on the Paris Accord next week!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2017

Mr Trump’s first major overseas trip as President has been an unusual one. During his travels in the Middle East and Europe, he made no attempt to promote democracy and human rights in Saudi Arabia and he did not advocate the two-state solution the US has long supported when in Israel and the West Bank.

A series of awkward moments made the most headlines during the trip, from first lady Melania’s apparent reluctance to hold his hand, to the Pope’s unhappy expression during their meeting at the Vatican, to his shoving aside of Montenegro’s prime minister to get to the front of a pack of leaders at a NATO photo opportunity.

But Mr Trump appeared pleased with the outcome of his trip, telling US troops at a Sicilian air base as he left for Washington: “I think we hit a home run.”