Trump and world leaders meet at G7 summit

By Ivana Kottasová, Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 3:44 p.m. ET, August 26, 2019
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11:19 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

Trump to France: "The first lady loved your French wine"

US first lady Melania Trump (l.), taste wine in a wine shop during a visit on traditional Basque culture as part of the G7 summit.
US first lady Melania Trump (l.), taste wine in a wine shop during a visit on traditional Basque culture as part of the G7 summit. REGIS DUVIGNAU/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump would not confirm if the US and France have reached an agreement on sanctions on French wines — but he would confirm that his wife loves the drink.

A reporter noted that Melania Trump was seen tasting French wine during the G7 summit.

"So can you perhaps give up on your threat to put sanctions on French wine?" the reporter asked. "Could you confirm that there has been an agreement between you and France on taxing digital firms?"

Here's how Trump responded:

"I can confirm that the first lady loved your French wine. She loved your French wine. So thank you very much. That's fine."

Some context: Last month, Trump floated placing tariffs on French wines and other French products in retaliation for that nation's new tax on large American technology companies.

11:17 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

Trump says he'll only make a trade deal with China if it's a "fair" and "good" deal for the US

Asked if he was ready to make a deal on trade with China, President Trump said, "Only if it's a fair deal and a good deal for the United States. Otherwise, I will not make a deal."

"I think they want to make a deal, and they should make a deal," Trump said of China.

He added that if they don't make a deal with the US it will be "very bad for China."

11:13 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

North Korea has "tremendous economic potential," Trump says

President Trump said North Korea has "tremendous potential" — something he believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un understands.

"Kim Jong Un, who I've gotten to know extremely well — the first lady has gotten to know Kim Jong Un and I think she would agree with me — he is a man with a country that has tremendous potential," Trump said.

Trump added that North Korea's location between South Korea and China gives it "tremendous economic potential."

"I think that Kim Jong Un sees that he would be the leader and I think he sees the tremendous potential that it’s got.
11:10 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

Trump doesn't commit to meeting Iran's Rouhani

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

President Trump wouldn't commit to meeting with Iran's President after French leader Emmanuel Macron raised the idea.

"If the circumstances were correct or right I would certainly agree to that," Trump said at the G7 summit in France. "In the meantime they have to be good players."

Earlier, Macron said he was working to arrange a meeting between Trump and Hassan Rouhani in the next few weeks as a precursor to a new nuclear agreement.

Trump did not respond directly to Macron's effort. But he said any new deal would need to encompass a longer period of time and include ballistic missile testing.

"We’re looking for no nuclear weapons, no ballistic missiles, and a longer period of time," Trump said. 

"I really believe that Iran can be a great nation," Trump said. "I’d like to see that happen."

But he said if Iran continued bad behavior, it would be met with "violent force."

11:07 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

Trump: I'm not looking for a leadership change in Iran

President Trump said Iran is "not the same country that it was two and a half years ago" when he came into office.

He said the US would like to see Iran without nuclear weapons — but he's not looking for a leadership shakeup within the nation.

“I think that Iran is a country of tremendous potential. We’re not looking for leadership change. We’re not looking for that kind of change. This country has been through that many times before. That doesn’t work," Trump said. "We’re looking for no nuclear weapons, no ballistic missiles and a longer period of time. Very simple."

Trump said he believes Iran can be a "great nation."

“I would like to see that happen," he added. "But they can’t have nuclear weapons.”

11:06 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

Macron: There must be a meeting between the US and Iran

French President Macron said that world leaders discussed brokering a "new nuclear agreement" with Iran at the G7. Macron is calling for the leaders of the US and Iran to meet in the coming weeks to discuss the issue.

"At a given point in time there will have to be a meeting between the American and Iranian president and I would wish that in the coming weeks such a meeting take place," Macron said.

"I'm ready to have a meeting to make a deal," Macron added. "I want this meeting to happen."

10:56 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

Trump: I believe China is sincere in striking new trade deal

President Trump said he believes China is sincere in wanting a new trade deal.

"Do you believe that China is sincere about what it said this morning?" a reporter asked the President at a news conference.

"Yes," Trump responded.

Earlier today, Trump said he'd received word from China that its negotiators are ready to return to trade talks, even after his aides spent Sunday insisting Trump wants higher tariffs on Chinese products.

10:54 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

Macron: "Our deep wish is for an agreement" between the US and China

French President Emmanuel Macron said he hopes the US and China reach a trade deal quickly because "uncertainty" is bad for the global economy.

"Our deep wish is for an agreement to be found between the United States and China concerning trade because I think that would be something positive for everyone," he said when asked if he was concerned about the trade war between the US and China.

He continued:

"What’s bad for the world economy is uncertainty and the quicker an agreement is arrived at, the quicker that uncertainty will dissipate."

Some context: Earlier today, Trump said he'd received word from China that its negotiators are ready to return to trade talks, even after his aides spent Sunday insisting Trump wants higher tariffs on Chinese products.

10:43 a.m. ET, August 26, 2019

France and the US agree that "Iran must never have nuclear arms," Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said both he Trump agree that Iran “must never have nuclear arms."

Speaking next to President Trump, Macron added that Iran "must never be allowed to disturb the stability of the region."

The French President went to say that a lot of pressure has been put on Iran. He welcomed both the visit by Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif as well as the words by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as a positive step in what he still described as a “fragile” environment.