U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron walk to take part in a family photo before a cultural performance and concert during the G7 summit, in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Former MS NOW analyst David Shuster said Trump’s “word salad and cognitive confusion” was undeniably on display at this week’s G7 summit in France.
Shuster had plenty of fodder to choose from at the event. While speaking with the Emir of Qatar Trump launched into a rambling geography lesson that would fail most any 7th Grader.
“Working with Qatar and the people of Qatar was really a pleasure,” Trump told Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. “They were tough and strong. They are the closest to Iran, physically. With other countries I’ve noticed they’ve got to travel about 45 minutes to get there. But you, you can walk right across the border.”
“No. You cannot walk across the border from Qatar to Iran because they are separated by the Persian Gulf,” Shuster informed viewers of his Rebel HQ podcast. “Did Trump confuse Qatar with Kuwait or Iraq? Who knows? And who knows where Trump’s mind was as he sat around the table with G7 members for a working meeting.”
Shuster then cited the brutal tableside moment when French President Emmanuel Macron asked participants to turn and face the cameras. Trump ignored the request, seeming oblivious and spacing out despite the whole table facing forward in expectation. Shuster pointed out that Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appeared to be fumbling with a notebook and was looking down, and it only appeared that Trump bounced back and took notice of the camera op after Meloni faced the camera and smiled.
“Only then did Trump seem to snap out of it and catch on,” said Shuster.
Shuster also referenced the long, painful moment Trump took clutching at the hand of Macron’s wife Brigitte Macron and holding it awkwardly “a full 15 seconds before releasing it,” even as the first lady made efforts to pull back.
“As everybody can see Trump has gained some weight since his last G-7 summit,” said Shuster adding identifying arrows to the president’s protuberant belly and hips. “But it’s his confusion that has taken world leaders and international leaders by storm. At the end of the G7 arrival photo op, Trump was told to exist stage left. He wandered to the right.”
“The other side,” international leaders called out to him before he wandered off.
“This way,” urged Macron.
“To be fair these large photo ops can be confusing for everybody, but Donald Trump’s physical appearance, including his weight, the heavy makeup on his hand and his befuddled facial expressions are getting noticed,” said Shuster. “And Trump’s apparent health challenges are raising more questions about his judgement, or lack of judgement.”
“Does Donald Trump really know or understand what is in the emerging Iran peace deal?” demanded Shuster. “Does Trump even remember why he took the U.S. to war with Iran to begin with?”