Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday evening to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, according to a report from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau meets President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago. pic.twitter.com/FnsXNYbLO6
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 30, 2024
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The visit comes amid heightened tensions over Trump’s recent announcement of a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports if the two countries fail to address migration and drug trafficking issues.
Sources confirmed that Trudeau’s plane landed at Palm Beach International Airport, and he was accompanied by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
#BREAKING: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has arrived in West Palm Beach and will meet with President-elect Trump tonight at Mar-a-Lago – Bloomberg pic.twitter.com/KJhbjHFTI4
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 29, 2024
Trudeau was expected to dine with Trump at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate before returning to Canada the following morning.
The meeting followed Trump’s announcement on Monday, in which he outlined plans to impose steep tariffs as a response to what he described as Canada and Mexico’s failure to curb illegal migration and drug inflows into the United States.
“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump said in a statement. “Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border.”
Trump stated that he would sign an executive order upon taking office on January 20 to implement the tariffs.
“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States,” he added. “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 25, 2024
Senior government sources told CBC that Trudeau and Trump held a brief ten-minute phone call earlier in the week to address trade and border security concerns.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trudeau described the conversation as a “good call” and emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties between the two countries.
“We obviously talked about … how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth. We talked about some of the challenges we can work on together,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau also convened a virtual meeting with Canada’s provincial premiers on Wednesday evening to discuss Trump’s tariff threat.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, a member of Mexico’s leftist government, responded to Trump’s announcement on Tuesday by holding a press conference.
She displayed a letter sent to Trump in which she threatened retaliatory tariffs and accused the United States of contributing to migration and fentanyl-related issues.
However, on Wednesday, Trump announced that he had a productive conversation with Sheinbaum, who agreed to measures aimed at addressing migration through Mexico.
“Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border,” Trump said.
REPORT: Trump says the Jewish president of Mexico agreed to stop migration through her country and into the U.S. after he threatened her with 25% tariffs
“Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo,” Trump wrote on his platform… pic.twitter.com/nyuV6soC5B
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) November 28, 2024
“We also talked about what can be done to stop the massive drug inflow into the United States, and also, U.S. consumption of these drugs. It was a very productive conversation!” he added.
Trudeau’s visit to Florida highlights the urgency of addressing the looming tariff issue, which could have significant economic repercussions for Canada.
As Trump prepares to take office, his strong stance on border security and trade is already reshaping relations with neighboring countries.
Both leaders are expected to make formal announcements in the coming days as negotiations continue.
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