Trump, Trudeau meeting to happen Monday

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will receive Canada’s prime minister at the White House next week for their first official meeting, after weeks of back-and-forth about setting a tangible agenda beyond pleasantries and first-encounter photo ops. Several people familiar with the planning said uncertainty about the date lingered for a reason — the Canadian side wanted specific results, while the American administration is still busy getting its cabinet confirmed. The scheduling drama was further fuelled by a spectacular public rift between Trump and the president of Mexico last month, scrubbing plans for a potential trilateral meeting of the continent’s Three Amigos. Now, it’s finally on: Justin Trudeau will fly to Washington for a meeting with the new president on Monday, both countries confirmed in statements after weeks of rampant rumours about the when and where. ‘’Strong Canada-U.S. ties help the middle class in both our countries,’’ Trudeau tweeted Thursday. ‘’Monday, I’ll meet ?realDonaldTrump in D.C. to keep working for that goal.’’