Trump disrupts G-7 gender equality meeting by arriving late

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde wait for the arrival of President Donald Trump to the Gender Equality Advisory Council breakfast during the G-7 summit, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in La Malbaie, Quebec Canada. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

LA MALBAIE, Quebec (AP) -- President Donald Trump arrived late for a gender equality meeting at an international summit, prompting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to kick it off without waiting for "stragglers" to arrive.

Trump created a distraction when he walked in late for Saturday's breakfast meeting during the Group of Seven summit of leading industrialized nations being held in Quebec.

He missed Trudeau's introductory statement and entered the room while Gender Equality Advisory Council co-chair Isabelle Hudon was speaking.

Security personnel had to open a path for Trump through a throng of journalists and cameramen. The camera clicks for Trump almost drowned out Hudon.

French President Emmanuel Macron stared at Trump after he sat down.

Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland later tweeted photos of the women's empowerment meeting, showing Trump's empty chair.

Trudeau had made the issue of gender equality a priority for the gathering. He said gender equality must "cut through" everything the G-7 does.