President Donald Trump sought to butter up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday before their afternoon chat about a trade agreement between the two countries and Mexico that Trump believes is deeply unfair to the United States.
Trump labeled Trudeau a ‘great prime minister’ during a photo op at the White House’s South Portico. He said later, in the Oval Office, that the two countries are ‘as close as ever’ now that he’s in charge.
The president referred to Trudeau as a ‘man who has become a friend of mine,’ during their extended greeting, prompting the Canadian PM to say, ‘We have an incredibly close relationship.’
They had just given each other a warm hello, full of hugging and patting, as Trudeau and his wife Sophie arrived for their meeting with the president and first lady.
Once in the Oval, Trump treated Trudeau to one of his famously strong handshakes.
President Donald Trump sought to butter up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday before an afternoon of talks about a trade agreement between the two countries and Mexico that Trump believes is deeply unfair to the United States
Trump labeled Trudeau a ‘great prime minister’ during a photo op on the South Lawn. He said later, in the Oval Office, that the two countries are ‘as close as ever’ now that he’s in charge
OLD FRIENDS: Sophie Gregoire Trudeau pulls First Lady of the United States Melania Trump in for an embrace
Melania Trump just visited Trudeau’s Canada. She led the United States’ delegation to the Invictus Games, held this year in Toronto. The Trudeaus gave her a warm welcome to Canada then and she returned the favor at the White House today
Trump said later, in the Oval Office, that the two countries are ‘as close as ever’ now that he’s in charge. The U.S. president gave Trudeau another gripping handshake as they began their talks
OUCH! Trump gave the Canadian PM a crushing handshake during their Oval Office talk
The Trudeaus made an appearance last night a Fortune summit in Washington, where they were seated at dinner next to the president’s eldest daughter, Ivanka, who’s also a senior adviser to her father.
It was Justin Trudeau’s second time at the White House since Donald Trump took office in January when he stopped by on Wednesday. They shared a death grip handshake outside the West Wing when Trudeau arrived on that occasion, in mid February.
First Lady of the United States Melania Trump just visited Trudeaus in Canada. She led the United States’ delegation to the Invictus Games, held this year in Toronto, at the end of September.
Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, both showed up to greet Melania Trump during the short but historic visit that served as the first lady’s first solo trip abroad since her husband took office.
Melania Trump was on hand this afternoon to greet the prime minister and his wife, who she could been seen giving a two-cheek kiss through the window of the Oval Office as their meeting began.
NOT FEELING IT: Trump extended his hand to Trudeau for the old Oval Office grip and grin
Trudeau and his wife, who’s out of frame here, sat patiently as Trump engaged in Q and A with the White House press corps
The two leaders greeted each other with a hug today at the White House
It was Justin Trudeau’s second time at the White House since Donald Trump took office last January
The two couples are seen posing for a photo this afternoon on the south side of the White House
In a media avail moments later, President Trump said, ‘We are here with a man who has become a friend of mine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mrs. Trudeau.’
He also said it’s possible that talks between the U.S. and Canada will not result in a new trade deal.
‘I think Justin understands this. If we can’t make a deal it will be terminated, and it will be fine,’ he said.
Trump mused that they have a ‘chance to do something very creative’ with trade in the process.
‘It’s time after all of these years, and we’ll see what happens,’ he said of NAFTA negotiations. ‘But I’ve been opposed to NAFTA for a long time,’ Trump added.
Trump is known for giving strong handshakes. Trudeau was prepared for it when he met Trump at the White House in February, greeting the new president was aggressive tug of the shoulder and grip of his hand
The Trudeaus made an appearance last night a Fortune summit in Washington, where they were seated at dinner next to the president’s eldest daughter, Ivanka, who’s also a senior adviser to her father