The G7 group leaders convened this week in the resort town of Evian-les-Bains, eastern France, to discuss critical global security and economic issues. Heads of the leading economies, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada, participated in a series of meetings and interacted at sideline events.

Microphones left on in the meeting rooms at the summit offered a glimpse into conversations as leaders chatted about various topics, from geopolitics and trade to their personal lives.

From left to right: United States President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a session at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on 17/6. *AP*

"We are friends again," European Council President Antonio Costa said, standing between United States President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on 16/6.

Meloni had reportedly kept her distance from Trump in recent months, following the United States-Israel campaign against Iran that led to the Middle East conflict lasting over three months. This war did not receive public support in Italy, leading to criticism from the opposition regarding her close relationship with Trump. The Italian Prime Minister later spoke out against the war in Iran, but her relationship with Trump appears to have recently improved.

"We have always been friends," Meloni replied.

President Trump, Chancellor Merz, European Council President Antonio Costa, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speak at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on 16/6. *AP*

The Italian Prime Minister's personal habits also provided a lighthearted moment when leaders met during their first session. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked Prime Minister Meloni if she had smoked her first cigarette of the day, to which she replied that she had not smoked since 1/5. Amid applause from other leaders, she raised both hands in a victory gesture. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney then asked, "Are you using nicotine patches?" while patting his bicep.

In another moment, a microphone captured a conversation between Trump and Costa on the sidelines of a meeting. "You understand, right?" the United States President said before pausing and looking directly at Costa, then mentioning "Greenland". The beginning and end of the conversation were unclear. However, many European politicians had been angered by President Trump's threats to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. This was perhaps the most divisive issue between the United States and its European allies, according to Mark Landler, an analyst for *The New York Times*.

The conversation between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding an agreement between Ottawa and Beijing concerning Chinese electric vehicle imports earlier this year was also recorded. This was an agreement that the Trump administration did not support. Carney told the United States President that the deal accounted for "less than 3% of our market, with about 49,000 cars". He added, "I think you'll actually like that". President Trump replied, "Good. I like that".

President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Evian-les-Bains, France, on 16/6. *AP*

French President Emmanuel Macron, as the host nation's leader, inadvertently provided an opportunity for his guests to play a gentle joke after he left his wristwatch behind after lunch. "He left his watch here. We have his watch now," Carney told the group of leaders. "Give it to me if he forgets it," Trump said, prompting laughter from those around him. "Give it here".

On the final day of negotiations, 17/6, Trump once again made allied leaders laugh when he entered the meeting room late and declared, "I'm the boss".

President Trump jokingly says, "I'm the boss," as he enters a meeting with G7 leaders in France on 17/6. *Video: X/@RapidResponse47*

With the World Cup 2026 underway in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, football became a topic of interest as leaders gathered for a working lunch on 16/6. Someone shouted "allez les bleus" (Go, blue boys), a cheer for the French national team. Another leader discussed Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) recent Champions League victory.

German Chancellor presents a jersey to the United States President at the G7 summit in France on 16/6. *Video: X/RapidResponse47*

At another point in the day, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed admiration for Cabo Verde's unexpected 0-0 draw against Spain. "It was quite magical, I must say," he commented.

Chancellor Merz, who had recently engaged in heated debates with Trump over the Iran conflict, presented the United States leader with a German national team jersey bearing the name "Trump" and the number 47. President Trump held up the jersey, smiling with amusement for a photo, before setting it aside. Merz later posted a picture of the gift to Trump on social media, accompanied by a suggestive message: "after all, we are on the same team".

By Thanh Tam (Sources: *The New York Times*, ABC, *AP*)