President Donald Trump said in an impromptu press gaggle Friday morning that Russia should be reinstated to the G7, or Group of Seven.
Trump, who was preparing to fly to Quebec, Canada for the 44th G7 summit, said he has been Russia's "worst nightmare" but there were reasons to bring the country to the negotiating table.
"Now, I love our country. I have been Russia's worst nightmare. If Hillary got in, I think [Vladimir] Putin is going, 'man, I wish Hillary won,' because you see what I do," Trump began.
But despite that, Trump said Russia should be a participant in the meeting.
"Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting? And I would recommend, and it's up to them, but Russia should be in the meeting. It should be a part of it," he said.
Russia – who was formally part of the group, then called the Group of 8 or G8, from 1998 until 2014 – was ousted from the group in 2014 after it annexed Crimea. Current members of the G7 include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The president argued reinstating Russia might not be politically correct but "we have a world to run."
"They should let Russia come back in, because we should have Russia at the negotiating table," he said.
Italy’s new prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, backed Trump on Twitter later Friday morning. The Prime Minister said he agreed with Trump, writing that Russia should be back in the "G8."
Democratic lawmakers were less supportive of Trump's pronouncement.
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) suggested Trump's statement is proof Russian President Vladimir Putin is in charge of U.S. foreign policy.
In the totally, completely, totally, unlikely case Putin is in charge of U.S. foreign policy, it would go something like... https://t.co/kJBNgC0XIG
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 8, 2018
Sen. Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii) said Trump is trying to "upend the world order led by America" after the president's comment about the G7.
Donald Trump is angering our friends around the globe and kissing up to our enemies. This isn’t just a different tactical approach - it is an attempt to upend the world order led by America and it is as dangerous as anything we’ve seen since the election.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) June 8, 2018
Rep. Ted Leiu (Calif.) brought to Trump's "attention" that while Canada, France, and Germany are not U.S. security threats, Russia is.
Dear @POTUS: Based on your disputes with Canada and France, and your desire to reinstate Russia into G7, reupping this memo for your attention. pic.twitter.com/KW5E9QVIhC
— Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) June 8, 2018
Update 11:12 a.m.: This story was updated to include the Italian prime minister's response.