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NATO leaders professed unity on Wednesday at a summit near London — but a spat over off-the-cuff chit chat at a royal reception rattled their show of solidarity.
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U.S. President Donald Trump branded the leader of Americas northern neighbor “two-faced” after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to gossip about Trump in comments caught on camera and microphone.
Trudeau was seen standing in a huddle with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Britains Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, at Tuesday evenings Buckingham Palace reception for NATO leaders.
Trudeau could be heard saying incredulously, “he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top.” Trudeau confirmed that was a reference to Trumps long and unscheduled question-and-answer session with journalists earlier Tuesday.
Trudeau also said: “You just watched his teams jaws drop to the floor.” He explained Wednesday that was in reference to Trumps decision to hold the next Group of Seven meeting at Camp David, the presidential retreat.
Footage of the palace reception was recorded by a pool camera. The clip was posted online by Canadian broadcaster CBC and has been viewed more than 5 million times.
Speaking Wednesday at the summit venue in Watford, outside London, Trump said Trudeau was likely upset that the U.S. president had broached the fact that Canada falls short of the NATO target of spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defense.
“Well hes two-faced,” Trump told reporters. “And honestly, with Trudeau hes a nice guy, I find him to be a very nice guy but you know the truth is that I called him out on the fact that hes not paying 2% and I guess hes not very happy about it.”
Trudeau had a quiet word and a handshake with Trump as he arrived at the summit Wednesday, and later tried to shrug off the episode.
“As you all know, we have a very good and constructive relationship between me and the president,” Trudeau told reporters at a news conference.
Asked if the incident had given him pause for thought, Trudeau said that ensuring the focus of attention remained on matters of substance “is something that were all going to try to do a little harder.”
PM Trudeau was asked about his "jaw drop" comment that was caught by microphones last night. Here was his explanation – and a nod that his team was also Read More – Source
