US President Donald Trump has clashed with world leaders, including Washington allies, over climate change and trade at what EU officials call the most challenging meeting of the G7 in years.
The gathering on the Italian island of Sicily kicked off on Friday, with world leaders engaged in a heated argument with Trump, who is considering withdrawing from the landmark Paris climate accord.
“This is going to be the most challenging G7 meeting in years,” Donald Tusk, president of the EU Council, told reporters going into the G7 meeting. “It is no secret that some leaders have different positions on climate, on trade . . . Most importantly we have to defend the rule-based international order.”
The summit Friday failed to make progress on narrowing differences between the US and its partners as Trump is still reviewing Washington’s position.
Gary Cohn, Trump’s economic adviser, said the president’s “views are evolving, he came here to…