Close X
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
ADVT 
National

Despite pandemic, Trump muses about resuming plan for in-person G7 meetings

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 May, 2020 07:23 PM
  • Despite pandemic, Trump muses about resuming plan for in-person G7 meetings

Donald Trump is contemplating whether to resurrect plans to host G7 leaders at the Camp David presidential retreat next month.

The U.S. president tweeted Wednesday about holding the meeting on or near the original June 10-12 timeline at the famous rural retreat, which is in Maryland about an hour's drive north of the U.S. capital.

"Now that our Country is 'Transitioning back to Greatness,' I am considering rescheduling the G7, on the same or similar date, in Washington, D.C., at the legendary Camp David," Trump wrote.

"The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all — normalization!"

With the U.S. scheduled to play host to the annual G7 this year, the administration's original plan to host the gathering at the Trump-owned Doral golf resort in Miami was abandoned last fall after critics accused the president of seeking to profit off the meeting.

But the subsequent plan to move the meeting to Camp David was initially thwarted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed support Wednesday for the notion of G7 leaders sharing ideas, even if he was noncommittal about meeting in person. The group did gather for a videoconference call last month, he noted before suggesting science and prudence should determine the best course of action going forward.

"We're going to need to keep talking about not just how we get through this COVID-19 pandemic, but how we restore the global economy to its rightful activities," Trudeau said.

"We'll certainly take a look at what the U.S. is proposing as host of the G7 to see what kind of measures will be in place to keep people safe, what kind of recommendations the experts are giving in terms of how that might function."

Security experts, however, say it's hard to believe an in-person meeting in June would be feasible.

"I don't, nor do I think many other leaders would come," said Brett Bruen, a former diplomat and White House adviser under former president Barack Obama.

MORE National ARTICLES

A quick look at British Columbia's COVID-19 reopening plan

A quick look at British Columbia's COVID-19 reopening plan
The B.C. government has outlined its plan to reopen the BC economy Mid May during the COVID-19 pandemic under guidelines aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. 

A quick look at British Columbia's COVID-19 reopening plan

Vancouver Police make substantial drugs & weapons seizure

Vancouver Police make substantial drugs & weapons seizure
Vancouver Police have seized nearly $3 million worth of street drugs and eight handguns after a four-month investigation into the flow of illicit opioids into Metro Vancouver. Early in 2020, the VPD’s Organized Crime Section launched Project Transit to target offenders engaged in the distribution of illegal opioids.           

Vancouver Police make substantial drugs & weapons seizure

No school-made gifts for mom this year. Dads, get to work

No school-made gifts for mom this year. Dads, get to work
At first, the Facebook meme made me laugh: “What are dads going to do when they realize their kids aren’t bringing home any Mother’s Day gifts from school?” Then it hit me: What AM I going to do?! This Mother’s Day, of course, is different.

No school-made gifts for mom this year. Dads, get to work

Canada to do millionth COVID-19 test but numbers still falling short

Canada to do millionth COVID-19 test but numbers still falling short
Canada is on track to complete its millionth test for COVID-19 sometime in the next 24 hours even as the country's biggest province continues to struggle to hit its own testing target. Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer of Canada, reported that as of Wednesday morning, more than 970,000 tests had been completed nationwide since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.    

Canada to do millionth COVID-19 test but numbers still falling short

Ceremony to be held today for service members who died in helicopter crash

Ceremony to be held today for service members who died in helicopter crash
The Canadian military is to hold a special ramp ceremony today at Canadian Forces Base Trenton to repatriate remains of a service member and honour all six who died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Greece. The Cyclone helicopter carrying six Armed Forces members crashed into the Ionian Sea on April 29.     

Ceremony to be held today for service members who died in helicopter crash

COVID-19 pandemic hammers job market, but there are 'opportunities,' say analysts

COVID-19 pandemic hammers job market, but there are 'opportunities,' say analysts
In the worst employment market in decades, job hunters need to prepare for what will inevitably be a video interview, say employers and job market experts who suggest there are opportunities out there. Statistics Canada reported more than one million Canadians lost their jobs at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in March, which is eight times worse than the previous one-month record during the financial meltdown in January 2009.

COVID-19 pandemic hammers job market, but there are 'opportunities,' say analysts