The photo of an isolated Donald Trump seemingly being chided by global leaders at the G7 summit has swept the world, hours after the US President dashed hopes of a consensus on trade by calling the Canadian Prime Minister “very dishonest and weak”.

In the photo released by the German government, Chancellor Angela Merkel stands surrounded by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May as she peers down at Mr Trump, who is seated with his arms crossed and returning her gaze.

The photo will come to define the insular and hostile Trump presidency, many commentators were quick to predict.

The White House shared a different view of the same meeting. In that black-and-white photo, posted by US Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Mr Trump appears to talk confidently as other leaders listen.

The White House’s view of the confrontation. Photo: Twitter

France’s President Macron also shared another view, with him arguing forcefully with his hands in Mr Trump’s direction.

The French view. Photo: Instagram

According to reports from inside the summit in Canada, Mr Trump caused deep divisions between the seven major nations – the US, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Britain and Italy – by delivering a “rant” on global trade.

The thorny issue of Mr Trump’s planned tariffs on steel and aluminium imported into the US has upset the consensus among industrialised nations on a transition to freer trade.

A member of the French delegation did not mince words when they briefed reporters about the US President’s diatribes on trade.

“And so began a long litany of recriminations, somewhat bitter reports that the United States was treated unfairly, that the trading system was totally unfavourable to the United States, the American economy, American workers, the middle class.

“In short, a long, frank rant, which is undoubtedly very unusual in this kind of format.”

The US President did not appear to be listening during some of the trade presentations, another G7 official familiar with the meeting said.

White House officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the characterisations by these officials of Trump’s remarks or attention to the presentations.

Soon after leaving the summit early, Mr Trump launched a blistering personal attack on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, host of the summit, for being “very dishonest and weak”.

“PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, ‘US Tariffs were kind of insulting’ and he ‘will not be pushed around.’ Very dishonest & weak,” Mr Trump tweeted from inside Air Force One while on his way to the Singapore summit with North Korea.

The attack appeared to shatter any hope Canada could avoid US tariffs on steel and aluminium or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mr Trudeau’s office, reeling from the abrupt Trump reversal hours after the two men had joked and smiled their way through a fractious G7 meeting, said only that Mr Trudeau had said nothing in his news conference that he hadn’t said before.

“Canadians are polite. We’re reasonable, but we also will not be pushed around,” Mr Trudeau had told reporters as he reiterated that Canada would retaliate against US tariffs on steel and aluminium, adding Mr Trump’s rationale had been insulting.

It would seem Mr Trudeau’s long charm offensive failed.

Now the world waits to see the outcome of Mr Trump’s abrasive leadership style in Singapore, where he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

– with AAP