During a recent flight aboard Air Force One, U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear that he seeks a decisive conclusion to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. He expressed a strong preference for a total surrender by Tehran regarding its nuclear ambitions, dismissing the idea of a temporary ceasefire in the region.
Trump’s statements followed an abrupt departure from the G7 summit in Canada, where he praised Israel’s military actions and emphasized the necessity of eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “A complete give-up, it’s possible,” Trump remarked, highlighting his preference for “not a ceasefire, a real end” to the hostilities. His tone suggested a reluctance to engage in negotiations at this stage, stating, “I’m not too much in a mood to negotiate.”
Strong stance on Israel and criticism of Macron
These comments came shortly after Trump criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for implying that Trump was returning to Washington to negotiate a ceasefire between the two nations. The president reiterated his support for Israel’s extended military campaign, despite previous anti-war sentiments and rising dissent among his supporters regarding U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.
“I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire,”
Trump stated, further commenting on Macron as a “nice guy” who often misjudges situations. Although he maintained a firm stance, he did not provide detailed insights into what a final resolution might entail. He hinted that his strategy would evolve based on developments in the coming days.
Future plans and criticisms of Iran
Looking ahead, Trump announced that he would convene with his advisors in the Situation Room the following day. He mentioned the possibility of sending Vice President JD Vance and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to engage with Iranian officials. Additionally, Trump criticized Iran for not securing a nuclear deal in time to prevent Israeli strikes, saying, “I hope their program’s going to be wiped out. They should’ve done the deal. Their cities have been blown to pieces and they’ve lost a lot of people.”
Regarding his decision to shorten his G7 trip, Trump explained that he preferred to be directly involved in monitoring the escalating conflict and felt he had accomplished his agenda during his brief stay in Canada. Within that timeframe, he met with various leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, but only announced one significant development: a proclamation on the implementation of a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement established a month prior.
Trump played down the urgency of pursuing additional trade deals before his July 8 deadline for imposing further tariffs on various countries. “We’re actually finished with every deal if you think about it because all I have to do is say this is what you’re going to pay,” he asserted.
In a display of solidarity amid the G7’s recent struggles to maintain a unified front, Trump eventually signed a joint statement addressing the Israel-Iran conflict after initially hesitating to endorse it. However, when questioned about the U.S.’s changing stance on the statement, he claimed he had not been deeply involved in the discussions and had yet to review the final draft.
“I haven’t seen the statement yet, but I authorized them to say certain things,”
he remarked, adding, “I don’t know whether or not they said them correctly. But I think they probably did.”