The G7 is meeting for the first time in a year and more than half the participants are new

The 2017 G7 summit is happening in Italy on Friday and it will be a largely different group than gathered last year.

Four of the seven participating countries - the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Italy - are under new leadership.

Perhaps the most dramatic new face is US President Donald Trump. He may find himself thriving in this environment, according to John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto

"It is a forum made for Donald Trump's particular style. It is highly informal, highly interactive and they speak in very colloquial language to each other," Kirton told the Associated Press. "It is the ultimate lonely hearts club. No one understands how tough it is to have the top job except the peers with the top job in other countries."

However, Trump may see some pushback from the other heads of state for his contrarian views on climate change and free trade.

Meet the G7 leaders below >>