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G7 leaders' private chats on smoking, Greenland, and football caught on hot mic

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • G7 leaders' private conversations, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's smoking cessation and a comment from then-U.S. President Trump about Greenland, were inadvertently captured by open microphones during a summit in France.
  • Meloni announced she had quit smoking on May 1, receiving congratulations from other leaders, while Trump made a cryptic remark about Greenland to European Council President Antonio Costa.
  • Other informal discussions included football, with leaders cheering the French team and discussing the Champions League, and gift exchanges, such as personalized bicycles from French President Macron and a German soccer jersey for Trump.

During the G7 summit in France, serious discussions on global issues like the war in Ukraine and China's trade practices were overshadowed by candid, off-the-cuff remarks from leaders caught on "hot mics." These unmuted microphones revealed a more personal side to the world leaders, offering glimpses into their private conversations.

I am the boss!

— Donald TrumpThen-U.S. President Trump's remark upon arriving late to a session discussing China's export subsidies.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shared that she had quit smoking on May 1, a personal milestone that drew congratulations from her counterparts. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz inquired about her morning, leading Meloni to reveal her successful cessation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's question about nicotine patches added a touch of lightheartedness to the exchange.

I haven't smoked since May 1.

— Giorgia MeloniItalian Prime Minister Meloni revealing her smoking cessation to other leaders.

Football also emerged as a topic of casual conversation during lunch, with leaders chanting for the French team and discussing the Champions League. In a more enigmatic moment, then-U.S. President Trump, upon arriving late to a session, made a sudden remark to European Council President Antonio Costa, "You know what? Greenland." The context and meaning of this statement remain unclear, adding a layer of intrigue to the summit's informal moments.

Have you got a patch on?

— Mark CarneyCanadian Prime Minister Carney asking Meloni about her smoking cessation method.

Gift diplomacy was also part of the summit's social fabric. French President Emmanuel Macron presented leaders with personalized bicycles to promote the upcoming World Cycling Championships in France. In a gesture of camaraderie, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gifted Trump a German national soccer team jersey, emblazoned with Trump's name and the number 47, signifying his status as the 47th U.S. president, with Scholz noting, "After all, we are on the same team."

You know what? Greenland.

— Donald TrumpThen-U.S. President Trump's cryptic remark to European Council President Antonio Costa.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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