France, Germany blast Trump's G7 outburst

Germany and France blasted Donald Trump for destroying trust and allowing "fits of anger" to shape global trade policy after the US President pulled out of a joint communique agreed upon at the end of the G7 summit. 

Trump rejected the text of a consensus statement, traditionally a paean to shared Western values and objectives under American leadership, in angry tweets from Air Force One after departing the Canada summit for Singapore, where is set to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. 

"You can destroy an incredible amount of trust very quickly in a tweet," Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wrote on Twitter. "That makes it all the more important that Europe stands together and defends its interests even more offensively."

"Europe United is the answer to America First."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau -- who Trump branded "weak" and "dishonest" -- had told reporters that "Canadians are polite and reasonable but we will also not be pushed around" over Trump's decision to invoke national security to justify US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

"Based on Justin's false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our US farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our US Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the US Market!" Trump tweeted in response.

"PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that ... he 'will not be pushed around.' Very dishonest & weak."

The US leader's abrupt withdrawal drew widespread condemnation Sunday from across the German political spectrum.

"How can one hold at all worthwhile negotiations with a White House that doesn't understand the basics of the global economic order and lives in a twisted, ramshackle fantasy world?" asked a commentator in major conservative newspaper Die Welt.

France also warned Sunday that "fits of anger" could not dictate international cooperation as Trump begins to enact protectionist trade policies that have angered Washington's allies and rivals alike. 

"International cooperation cannot be dictated by fits of anger and throwaway remarks," President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement to AFP.

"We spend two days working out a (joint) statement and commitments. We are sticking to them and whoever reneges on them is showing incoherence and inconsistency.

"Let's be serious and worthy of our people. We make commitments and keep them," the presidency said, adding that "France and Europe maintain their support for this (G7) statement."

As the White House came under a storm of criticism, its top economic hand Larry Kudlow said the president's harsh response aimed to avoid a show of "weakness" ahead of North Korea nuclear talks.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "must not see American weakness" before his meeting Tuesday in Singapore with Trump, economic advisor Larry Kudlow said.

Kudlow, appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" also charged that Trudeau "stabbed us in the back" at the summit near Quebec City. 

"He really kinda stabbed us in the back," Kudlow said of Trudeau. "He did a great disservice to the whole G7."

Kudlow said that the US had "compromised" and joined the communique issued following the summit, but took exception with a news conference given by Trudeau.

"We went through it. We agreed. We compromised on the communique. We joined the communique in good faith," Kudlow said.

(Staff with AFP)