Clarification on ‘I’m the Boss’ Remark
President Donald Trump provided clarification on his recent “I’m the boss” comment during the G7 summit. He stated that the remark was made in jest. In an interview with Axios, Trump explained that he was “just being funny” and “being cute.” The comment drew attention at the summit in France, attended by leaders of major Western economies to discuss global security and economic coordination.
This explanation is Trump’s first detailed account of the moment. It accompanies broader rhetoric emphasizing his administration’s leverage and influence internationally. Newsweek reached out to the White House for additional comments via an online form.
Incident Recap
Trump recounted the setting, insisting the comment was not an assertion of authority. “I was just being funny,” he told Axios’ Marc Caputo. He described the seating arrangement that prompted the remark: “They were all sitting at a long table meant for 30 people, but only seven were there. I walked in and joked, ‘I’m the boss and you remember.’ It was done as a joke.”
Asked how many leaders believed he was serious, Trump responded, “All of them.” He added, “It got carried all over the world, I can’t believe it. I was just being cute, funny. I wasn’t trying to be the boss.”
Emphasizing Power and Dominance
Trump described the summit in terms of control and influence. “I feel that it’s a very powerful administration right now,” he told Axios, marking his second term as stronger than the first. He characterized the summit as successful from his perspective, asserting, “We got what I wanted,” and described the event as a “very dominant G7.”
Observers note this reflects Trump’s trend of framing his administration’s foreign policy through strength, particularly after recent tensions with Iran.
Controversies Following G7 Summit
The “I’m the boss” remark was not the only diplomatic tension from the summit. A dispute arose between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. On Friday, Italy’s foreign minister canceled a planned U.S. visit after Trump’s allegations that Meloni “begged” for a photograph at the summit.
“She wanted a picture with me so badly,” Trump said to Italy’s La7 broadcaster. “I wouldn’t have taken it but felt sorry for her.” Meloni responded on social media, stating she was “stunned” and called Trump’s account false. “Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” she stated.
In an NBC News phone interview, Trump reaffirmed his claim that Meloni begged for the picture. “That’s true,” he said. “She wasn’t there for us.” Trump noted, “She was a big fan but I don’t want her as a fan because she was not there – along with the NATO group – related to the Strait,” referring to the Strait of Hormuz, closed by Iran after attacks by Israel and the U.S.