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Trump claims he received 'deep respect' at Nato summit despite video showing world leaders laughing at him

Mr Trump called his Canadian counterpart 'two-faced' after video surfaced, and cancelled planned press conferences

Clark Mindock
New York
Wednesday 04 December 2019 23:39 GMT
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Donald Trump says Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is 'two-faced'

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Donald Trump has claimed he received "deep respect" during this week's Nato summit in London, despite a viral video showing world leaders laughing at him for his lengthy press conferences.

Mr Trump lashed out at the press coverage of his trip in a tweet, in which he said the London trip was "VERY successful", even though the summit was outwardly marked by the video as well as tension between the president and some of America's closest allies including French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

"The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to belittle my VERY successful trip to London for NATO. I got along great with the NATO leaders, even getting them to pay $130 Billion a year more, & $400 Billion a year more in 3 years," Mr Trump tweeted. "No increase for US, only deep respect!"

In the video, Mr Macron and Mr Trudeau can be seen discussing the US president's lengthy press conferences over drinks in Buckingham Palace, alongside prime minister Boris Johnson and Princess Anne.

The video, which was distributed originally by Canadian news outlets, provided a rare glimpse into the way in which world leaders speak to one another about the polarising president who has taken a tough stance on the military alliance the nations had come together to discuss.

Trudeau, Macron and Johnson caught on camera making fun of Trump

"Is that why you were late?" Mr Johnson asked Mr Macron in the video, referring to a fiery exchange between Mr Trump and the Frenchman over Isis fighters during a joint press conference on Tuesday.

"He was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top — 'Oh, ya, ya ya," Mr Trudeau replied, miming the following action: "You just watched his team's jaws drop to the floor."

When asked about the video on Wednesday during a meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Trump said the following of Mr Trudeau: "He's two-faced."

Later, Mr Trump suddenly cancelled planned press conferences for Wednesday he was overheard on a hot mic discussing his reaction with an unknown individual.

"Oh. And then you know what they’ll say?” Mr Trump was heard responding to an unknown attendee. “‘He didn’t do a press conference! He didn’t do a press conference!’”

He continued, referring to Mr Trudeau: "That was funny when I said that guy was two-faced."

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