Trump scolds Trudeau, says policies will be costing Canada ‘a lot ofmoney’
PresidentDonald SINGAPORE— Trump reprised his criticismof Canada’s prime minister here Tuesday, threatening that Justin Trudeau’s tough exchanges with him over tradepolicywould “cost a lot of money for the people of Canada.”
The president said he departedtheGroupof Seven summit thatTrudeau hosted in Quebec late last week on “very friendly” terms with his six counterparts, including the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain.
“When I got on to the plane, I think that Justin probably didn’t know that Air Force One has about 20 televisions,” Trump said. “And I see the television, and he’s giving a news conference about how he will not be pushed around by theUnited States. I say, push themaround? Wejust shook hands. It was very friendly.”
Trump said he was retaliating against Canada with countervailing tariffffffffffffs, saying of Trudeau: “He learned that’s going to cost a lot of money for thepeople of Canada. He learned.”
Trump made his comments in a wide-ranging news conference in Singapore following his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump was asked about the contrast between the respect he accorded Kim here Tuesday and the hostility he showed Trudeau in recent days, and what he would say to those who worry he is treating America’s longtime friends, such as Canada, as enemies and its longtime enemies, such as North Korea, as friends.
“I think it’s a very fair question,” Trump said. “I had a very good meeting with the G-7. And I left the meeting, and I’ll be honest, we’re being taken advantage of by virtually every one of those countries very seriously.”
Trump said a photograph releasedbyGermanChancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman thatwent viral captured a friendliermood than what the snapshot conveyed to many analysts.
“The picturewith Angela Merkel, who I get along with very well, where I’msitting there like this”— Trumpsaid, crossing his arms — “that picture, I’m waiting for the document because I wanted to see the fifinal document.”
Trump continued: “It was very friendly. I knowitdidn’t look friendly; itwas reported asnastybothways,Iwasangry with her - actually, we were just talking, thewhole group, unrelatedtoeverything, very friendly, waiting for the document to come back.”
Trumpmade his comments ina wide-ranging news conference in Singapore following his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.