The annual showdown featuring the leaders of the world’s economic powers, including Britain, was due to take place between June 10 and 12 but was cancelled over coronavirus concerns. The meeting would have been held at the president’s Camp David retreat but was adjourned in March as governments started putting lockdown restrictions in place to avoid contagion.

On Wednesday Trump suggested in a tweet that a face-to-face could still happen as lockdown restrictions began to ease up.

He wrote: “Now that our country is ‘transitioning back to greatness’, I am considering rescheduling the G-7, on the same or similar date, in Washington, DC, at the legendary Camp David.

“The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all – normalisation!”

World leaders would have to fly into the US in less than three weeks unless the meeting is rescheduled for a later date.

Many have been focusing on leading their country’s pandemic response and avoiding international travel.

Trump’s claims suggest the meeting could be held at either Camp David, in Maryland, or an unnamed location in Washington DC.

Lockdown measures in Washington DC are due to be eased on June 8, but they could be lifted earlier.

As well as America six other countries are included in the G7, which stands for “Group of Seven”: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

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He explained that the figure showed the amount of testing the US was carrying out.

During a cabinet meeting attended by the press on Tuesday afternoon, he said: “When we have a lot of cases, I don’t look at that as a bad thing.

“I look at that in a certain respect as being a good thing because it means our testing is much better.

“So, I view it as a badge of honour. Really, it’s a badge of honour.

“It’s a great tribute to the testing and all of the work that a lot of professionals have done.”

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US has carried out over 12.6 million tests, a figure far higher than any other country.

The move comes after Trump faced criticism from healthcare professionals over comments he was taking an antimalarial drug called hydroxychloroquine to prevent Covid-19, despite it being proven not to work in the fight against the virus.

He ignored a report showing it could increase the probability of death among coronavirus patients.

He described the study as “false”, “phony” and a “Trump enemy statement”.

On Wednesday the hit out at China, claiming it was the “incompetence” of Beijing’s response to the pandemic and “nothing else” that “did this mass worldwide killing”.