Trump tweets about election results and skips session on pandemic during G20
It was a becoming finish to Trump’s profession in world multilateralism, which he has expressed his displeasure for since his first group summit — a G7 assembly held cliffside in Sicily — resulted within the feeling he was being ganged up upon by different world leaders.
It was unclear all week whether or not Trump would even be current for this yr’s G20, which is being held nearly due to the pandemic. But on Friday night, the White House launched a schedule confirming his participation.
When the occasion started, Trump was among the many almost two-dozen world leaders who appeared by way of video-conference, beaming in from the White House scenario room.
But solely 13 minutes after the scheduled 8 a.m. ET, begin time, Trump was sending tweets centered on his efforts to overturn the results of the US presidential election.
By 10 a.m. ET, the President had departed the White House on his option to his namesake golf membership exterior Washington, DC.
He was there when the “side event on Pandemic Preparedness” received underway, that includes remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and a number of different world leaders. Trump didn’t take part.
There had not been excessive expectations for this yr’s G20, regardless of a pandemic that may require world efforts to comprise the virus. That is partly right down to the absence of American management, however different world leaders have additionally struggled to corral their counterparts right into a joint effort to fight Covid-19.
Trump has by no means been keen on summit conferences, even once they weren’t held nearly. He departed a G7 assembly in Canada early and rescinded his signature on its ultimate communique. Ahead of final yr’s G7 in Biarritz, France, he requested his aides whether or not it was actually essential to attend.
It was Trump’s flip to host the G7 this yr, however the pandemic foiled plans to host leaders within the United States. At one level, Trump raised the prospect of convening the G7 after the election, however officers say there are not any plans in place now to rearrange a gathering earlier than the G7 presidency transfers to the United Kingdom in January.
