Open Microphones Capture G7 Leaders' Informal Moments Amid Serious Discussions

World leaders gathered at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France this week to address major global challenges, but open microphones revealed that conversations between the heads of the world's richest democracies also ventured into lighter territory. Sports, smoking habits, climate matters, and cryptic references to Greenland were among the topics caught on tape as leaders moved between conference rooms at the lakeside resort.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni became the focus of a notable moment when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked if she had smoked a cigarette that morning. Meloni revealed she had quit smoking on May 1st, prompting enthusiastic congratulations from leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney quipped, "Do you have a patch?" while gripping his own arm, drawing laughter from the group.

With the FIFA World Cup taking place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, football naturally dominated the sporting conversation. During a working lunch, French President Emmanuel Macron and others discussed the tournament, with someone shouting "Allez les bleus" in support of France's national team. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Cape Verde's surprising 0-0 draw against former world champion Spain as "quite remarkable." U.S. President Donald Trump shifted attention to a UFC cage-fighting event he hosted at the White House on Sunday, speaking enthusiastically about UFC Chief Executive Dana White.

An intriguing moment was captured when a microphone picked up Trump in conversation with European Council President António Costa about Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. Trump's cryptic reference came amid European political outcry over his threats to acquire the island. Later, when French President Macron apparently left his watch after the working lunch, Trump added levity to the situation, prompting laughter when he suggested Macron retrieve it.

Diplomacy through gift-giving also featured during the summit. Macron presented each of his seven counterparts with personalized bicycles to promote the upcoming UCI Cycling World Championship in the French Alps next year. German Chancellor Merz gave Trump a German national football team jersey bearing Trump's name and the number 47, which the president held up with a smile.