Trump boasts of tall claims to Trudeau

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump boasted he made things up in a conversation with Canada’s prime minister, insisting the US ran a trade deficit with its neighbour despite having “no idea” if the claim were true, the Washington Post reported.

Trump recalled the exchange with Justin Trudeau in a fundraising speech in Missouri, of which the paper said it had obtained an audio recording.

“Trudeau came to see me. He’s a good guy, Justin. He said, ‘No, no, we have no trade deficit with you, we have none. Donald, please,’“Trump said, imitating Trudeau, the Post said.

“Nice guy, good-looking guy, comes in - ‘Donald, we have no trade deficit.’ He’s very proud because everybody else, you know, we’re getting killed.

“... So, he’s proud. I said, ‘Wrong, Justin, you do.’ I didn’t even know. ... I had no idea. I just said, ‘You’re wrong.’“

Trump added: “You know why? Because we’re so stupid. ... And I thought they were smart. I said, ‘You’re wrong, Justin.’ He said, ‘Nope, we have no trade deficit.’ I said, ‘Well, in that case, I feel differently,’ I said, ‘but I don’t believe it.’ I sent one of our guys out, his guy, my guy, they went out, I said, ‘Check, because I can’t believe it.’“

According to the US Trade Representative, t he United States runs a trade surplus with Canada. The 2011 Arab Spring toppled Tunisia's and Egypt's long-serving presidents. The flames of democracy soon spread to Syria

In March 2011, Syrians across the country spontaneously began a peaceful protest after 15 boys were tortured for writing graffiti in support of the Arab Spring. President Bashar al-assad's government responded with a brutal crackdown

In July 2011, defectors from the military announced the formation of the rebel group Free Syrian Army, which aimed to overthrow Assad, and Syria slid into a civil war

Eastern Ghouta Palmyra

Since 1971, Sunni-majority Syria has been ruled by the Assad family, which belongs to the Alawi sect. The March 2011 protests began as non-sectarian, but the armed conflict soon became partisan in nature

After overrunning Iraq, IS made inroads into Syria in 2013 and soon was a major player, gaining international notoriety after it destroyed statues and monuments in the ancient city of Palmyra for being "heretic" Backed by Russia, Iran, Iraq, Hezbollah REBELS: Free Syrian Army, Army of Islam, Al-rahman Corps, Ahrar al-sham* Backed by Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, US

ISLAMIST MILITANTS: Islamic State, Jabhat Fateh al-sham

KURDISH FIGHTERS: Syrian Democratic Forces, Kurdish People's Protection Units Backed by US

OTHER PLAYERS: Israel —targeting Hezbollah

*Considered terrorists by Syria, Russia, Lebanon