President Donald Trump told his close associates -- including Environmental Protection Director Scott Pruitt -- that he plans to abandon the international climate change agreement, according to the Axios media (who referred to three different sources of direct knowledge).

On Saturday, Trump wrote on Twitter that he will decide next week whether to support the Paris Climate Agreement. The White House did not respond to a comment request regarding this matter. A source that is in a direct contact with officials involved in making a decision, said that several meetings are planned with the energy companies right before Trump releases his final statement later in the week.

Reuters notes that it is not clear whether these meetings will be held at all.

Trump claims global warming is a deception

"I will make the final decision on the Paris Agreement next week!" Trump wrote on Twitter on the last day of the G7 summit in Italy.

Trump called global warming a deception, even though he is exposed to the combined efforts of the world leaders to respect the Paris Accords of Carbon Dioxide Limitation. His unwillingness to accept this legally binding global climate agreement has surprised German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "The whole climate discussion was very difficult," she told reporters. "There is no indication that the United States will support The Paris Agreement." The Agreement has been signed by 195 countries so far.

Macron is optimistic

French President Emmanuel Macron said that talks with the US President Donald Trump about climate change are making progress. "I believe there is progress and that it will lead to real conversations and real exchange of views," Macron said after the G7 Summit in Taormina.

"It is important to keep in mind the starting points when many thought that the United States would leave the Paris Climate Agreement," he told reporters.

"Talks with G7 leaders (USA, Japan, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada) enabled the US president to see the importance of this issue," the French president concluded. These statements contradict the statements of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"Trump is pragmatic and I hope he will eventually confirm the participation in the Paris agreement," he added.

In the G7 statement published on Saturday, it is reported that they are aware of the disagreement between the United States and the other six nations when it comes to climate. The United States will have to re-evaluate its policy on climate change, and will hopefully come to a decision in the coming days.