Jokes, football, and open mics: Leaders' candid moments at the G7 summit

Beyond the formal discussions on global challenges, world leaders at the G7 summit in France revealed a more relaxed and sometimes unusual side of international diplomacy through candid remarks captured by open microphones. U.S. President Donald Trump was a notable participant in these informal exchanges, which took place in the corridors and lounges of the exclusive resort on the shores of Lake Geneva.

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since May 1

The informal conversations touched upon a variety of subjects, including football, cigarettes, wealth, the press, and even Greenland. These moments, inadvertently recorded by the sound systems, offered a stark contrast to the solemnity of the official deliberations. One widely discussed moment involved Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who, when asked by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz if she had smoked that morning, replied she hadn't "since May 1." This elicited congratulations from leaders representing Canada, Great Britain, Japan, and the European Union, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney even joking about nicotine patches.

Football, with the World Cup underway, also made its way into the informal agenda. Leaders exchanged comments, with cheers for "Allez les bleus" supporting France and mentions of Paris Saint-Germain's recent Champions League victory. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted Cape Verde's surprising draw against Spain as "quite remarkable."

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quite remarkable

Trump, in his characteristic style, steered conversations toward less conventional territory. He enthusiastically referred to a UFC event at the White House for his 80th birthday, highlighting Dana White. In another intriguing moment, he was overheard telling European Council President António Costa a single word: "Greenland." This comment, lacking clear context, reignited debate over his persistent interest in acquiring the autonomous Danish territory. The U.S. president also injected humor, joking during lunch when he noticed Emmanuel Macron had forgotten his watch, "Give it to me if he left it."

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Greenland

The summit also included diplomatic gift-giving. Macron presented personalized bicycles to his counterparts to promote the upcoming Cycling World Championship in the French Alps, while Merz gave Trump a German national team jersey with his name and number 47.

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Give it to me if he left it.