WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump left the G7 summit in Canada early, citing developments in the Middle East as his reason for abruptly returning to Washington. The decision came as Israel launched direct attacks on Iranian targets in Tehran, raising new questions about Trump’s position and what the United States might do next.
The White House said Trump’s return was “related to the Middle East situation.” Hours later, on Truth Social, he posted that it had “nothing to do with a ceasefire,” though gave no further clarification.
At the center of this fast-moving crisis is Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the strikes were “fully coordinated” with the U.S. That statement was not confirmed by the Trump administration, which has repeatedly stated that American forces are not participating in the attacks.
Despite that, Israel is using American-supplied weapons in the airstrikes. According to U.S. defense officials, American missile defense systems are actively intercepting retaliatory Iranian launches targeting Israel.
In the past week, Trump has delivered mixed messages on the conflict. He warned Iran of “even more brutal consequences” following the strikes, but also said he hoped for negotiations that would stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “Iran knows what they need to do,” Trump posted on social media. “They can either talk now or face worse later.”
Trump’s earlier efforts to negotiate a new deal with Iran had progressed to a planned sixth round of talks in Oman. That meeting, set for Sunday, was scrapped after the Israeli strikes began.
Some of Trump’s closest political allies support escalation, arguing that pressure will weaken Iran and bring it back to the table. But others warn that continued involvement risks drawing the U.S. into a wider war. Satellite imagery released Sunday showed heavy damage at Iran’s missile development facilities, fueling concern in Washington that Iran may retaliate against U.S. bases in the region.
Trump now faces three difficult options: increase support for Israel’s offensive, keep a careful distance, or withdraw entirely. Each path carries consequences for the region, U.S. troops, and his political base.
In recent days, Trump’s “America First” supporters have grown more vocal in their opposition to further military involvement. Tucker Carlson criticized the administration’s public stance, writing that “America is being dragged into a war it didn’t choose.” Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the concern on X, saying that “anyone cheering for U.S. troops to fight Iran isn’t MAGA.”
Facing criticism from within his movement, Trump posted that he supports “a deal between Iran and Israel,” and insisted that “the U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran.”
Iran has warned that continued U.S. assistance to Israel could lead to direct attacks on American assets. Analysts say if American personnel are harmed, pressure on Trump to disengage could mount rapidly.
With G7 leaders still in Canada and the Middle East conflict worsening, Trump’s early exit and shifting rhetoric leave the U.S. position unclear. The decisions he makes now may shape not just the outcome of this crisis, but also how voters judge his leadership on the global stage.
