Coronavirus: Donald Trump may call face-to-face G7 meeting after all

Donald Trump is considering holding an in-the-flesh meeting of the G7 at Camp David after all.

‘It would be a great sign to all – normalization!’: Donald Trump on Thursday. Picture: AP

President Donald Trump is considering holding a meeting in the US with the leaders of the world’s major economies after all, because it would be a “great sign to all” of things returning to normal during the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement on Thursday was the latest effort by Mr Trump to signal to the nation that the US economy is humming again after months-long shutdowns meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 are starting to be lifted.

The President had scheduled the Group of Seven summit for June 10-12 at Camp David in Maryland, but announced in March that he was cancelling it because­ of the pandemic and said the leaders would confer by video conference instead.

“Now that our Country is ‘Transitioning back to Greatness’, I am considering rescheduling the G-7, on the same or similar date, in Washington, D.C., at the legendary Camp David,” he tweeted. “The other members are also beginning­ their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all — normalizatio­n!”

The Trump administration has maintained travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for travellers from Europe, home to four of the G7 nations. And earlier this week the US and Canada agreed to keep their shared border closed to non-essential travel through to June 21. The District of Columbia remains under stay-at-home order­s at least through June 8, though Maryland began relaxing the restrictions last week.

A senior White House official said Mr Trump was seriously considering rescheduling the summit for towards the end of next month, at either the White House or Camp David. The subject was discussed on a call between the US President and his French counterpart Emmanu­el Macron on Wednesday, the official said.

If the summit happens, the US would request that delegations be pared back to a minimum and would curtail non-essential events such as the spousal program.

Mr Macron’s office said given the importance of the G7 in the response to the crisis, the President was willing to go to Camp David, if health conditions allowed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that whatever form the G7 meeting took, the world should definitely fight for multilateralism. Pressed on whether she would consider an actua­l trip to the US, Mrs Merkel said: “I chose my words with care.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it an interesting idea, but said leaders need a lot more details. He said it was importa­nt G7 leaders meet so they could discuss the pandemic and restoring economic activity. “We need to keep meeting as leaders. Whether that’s virtual or in person we will certainly take a look at what the US is proposing,” he said.

Mr Trump originally planned to hold the annual summit at his private golf course near Miami. But he switched the venue to Camp David, which he visited last weekend and which is run by the US military, after a public outcry over holding it at one of his money-making properties.

AP