France: Russia rejoining G7 would be 'positive for the world' – Trump

W/S US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron take to the podiums, Biarritz *BUG AT SOURCE*
SOT, Donald Trump, US President: "I think that having President Putin in what was the G8, was a member of the G8, and I heard that he was a good member of the G8; having him in I think is more of an advantage, I think it's a positive for the world, I think it's a positive for Russia, I think it's a big positive for Russia; and it's something the group are discussing, they are discussing." *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
M/S Melania Trump and Brigitte Macron at presser *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Trump, US President: "Is it good [inviting Russia back to the G7], probably not, maybe it is, I mean a lot of people are smart. A lot of people say having Russia, which is a power, having them inside the room is better than having them outside the room. By the way there were numerous people during the G7 that felt that way. And we didn't take a vote or anything but we did discuss it. My inclination is to say yes, they should be in." *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
M/S Journalist asking question at presser *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Trump, US President: "I don't know that he [President of Russia Vladimir Putin] would accept, those are tough circumstances, he was a part of G8 and all of a sudden he's not out or he's not in, so I think that John actually that's a pretty tough thing for him, you know, he's a proud person. Would I invite him? I'd certainly invite him. Whether or not he could come psychologically, I think that's a tough thing for him to do. You have a G8, now it's a G7, and you invite the person that was thrown out really by President Obama, and really because he got outsmarted."
W/S Trump and Macron at presser *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Trump, US President: "So when you say, 'Do you think they want to?' Maybe they want to and maybe they don't, but I think they want to make a deal; and I'm not sure they have a choice. And I don't say that as a threat. I don't think they have a choice. And in the meantime the United States, which has never collected 10 cents from China, will in a fairly short period of time be over $100 billion in tariffs, so I think they want to make a deal, very badly." *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
W/S Trump and Macron at presser *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Trump, US President: "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. We're looking for no nuclear weapons, no ballistic missiles, and a longer period of time. Very simple." *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
W/S Trump and Macron at presser *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Trump, US President: "I'm an environmentalist, a lot of people don't understand that. I've done more environmental impact statements, probably than anybody that's, I guess I can say definitely, because I have done many, many, many of them; more than anybody that's ever been president or vice president or anything even close to president. And I think I know more about the environment than most people." *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
M/S Trump and Macron hugging
W/S Trump leaving presser
SCRIPT
US President Donald Trump said that inviting Russia to rejoin the G7 would be a 'positive for the world' during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the global summit in Biarritz on Sunday.
"A lot of people say having Russia, which is a power, having them inside the room is better than having them outside the room. By the way there were numerous people during the G7 that felt that way," Trump said.
Russia's membership to what was formerly known as the G8 was suspended in 2014 over Moscow's actions in Crimea.
During the press conference Trump also touched upon the ongoing trade dispute with China saying that the Beijing has "no choice" but to make a trade deal with the US.
He also expressed a willingness to seek an agreement with Iran over their nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.