So much respect

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has rebuffed Donald Trump’s invitation to attend a G-7 summit, which the president is keen to portray as a symbol of a return to normality from the upheaval of the coronavirus crisis.

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In a call this week, [Merkel and Trump] had heated disagreements on topics including NATO, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, and relations with China, according to a senior U.S. official, who declined to be named.

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One official said the lack of preparation had heightened concerns among EU leaders about the potential political drawbacks of traveling to the U.S. — especially if they had not yet had a chance to meet in person in Brussels to discuss their own affairs.

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In a readout of a call between [UK PM Boris] Johnson and Trump on Friday, No. 10 Downing Street said: “On the upcoming G-7 Summit, the Prime Minister and President discussed the importance of leaders meeting in the U.S. in person if possible."

[French president Emmanuel] Macron has said he would be willing to attend the summit.

  Politico

He can say that if he knows there won't be one.

But a ban on nonessential travel from outside the EU remains in effect, and a decision on when to lift it is expected by mid-June.

Abe has expressed similar openness, though Japanese media have noted that under current guidelines, the prime minister and his entourage would be required to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Tokyo.

So, highly unlikely.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has also voiced a willingness to travel to Washington, as has Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. European Council President Charles Michel has said that he, too, would be up for the trip — if health conditions permit it.

Privately, however, one official familiar with the situation said that other EU leaders would support Merkel and would not attend Trump's summit if Merkel thought it was a bad idea.

He'll be rage-tweeting them.

Trump canceled the summit in March because of the crisis and said he would host a videoconference instead. But in a tweet on May 20, he said he might reschedule the summit, proclaiming, "It would be a great sign to all — normalization!"

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Merkel's refusal to attend the summit in person risks scuppering Trump's attempts to present the gathering as a landmark moment drawing a line under the lockdowns and travel bans imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Good for her. The line being drawn by Trump will be summarily rubbed out by covid-19.

The White House said this week it plans to hold the summit in late June in Washington, rather than the original venue of Camp David, the presidential retreat, where Trump moved the event after facing an outcry over plans to hold it at one of his own golf resorts in Miami.

He doesn't like Camp David. Too primitive.

"Camp David is very rustic. It's nice, you'd like it," [Trump] quipped. "You know how long you'd like it? For about 30 minutes."

  CNN

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.