As White House Dismisses Planetary Emergency as 'Niche' Issue, Trump Skips G7 Climate Meeting

After White House officials accused world leaders of attempting to embarrass U.S. President Donald Trump by focusing on the climate crisis at the G7 summit in France, Trump on Monday skipped a session on climate, oceans, and biodiversity during which representatives agreed to a $20 million package to help fight fires that have been ravaging the Amazon rainforest for weeks.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that Trump did not show up to the session. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said a senior Trump administration official attended the meeting in the president’s place.

After the climate session concluded, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he made it to the meeting.

“I’m going to. In fact, it’s going to be in a little while,” said the U.S. president, seemingly unaware the session had already taken place.

As The Hill reported, “It was unclear if he heard a reporter who noted the session had just happened.”

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