FOREIGN DIGNITARIES/FRANCE/G7/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “From the moment French President Emmanuel Macron tore up the G7 road map by canceling the joint communique, he transformed the gathering of the world’s seven largest advanced democracies. His tactic opened the door to a weekend of head-snapping spin and surprise, not least that President Trump stayed, smiling and handshaking with the host until the very end. It was a sharp contrast to Trump’s storming out early at the last G7 and testimony to Macron’s fleet-footed diplomacy. The rationale Macron gave behind his eve-of-summit cancellation — ‘it’s pointless’ — was a reference to Trump’s refusal to sign last year’s communique in Canada. To some at the White House, Macron’s motives appeared more ruthless. They complained the G7 agenda favored Macron, not Trump, leaving the US President little time to tout his own self-perceived economic prowess.”
–Nic Robertson, “Macron shook up the G7 with his fancy diplomatic footwork,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, August 26, 2019 7:27 pm