Trudeau says he has “tremendous confidence” in the American people.
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Obama’s jovial toast at Thursday’s dinner underscored the strikingly informal tone of a day steeped in pomp and age-old ritual but punctuated by displays of breezy familiarity.
“But columnist Rex Murphy noted the parallels between the media attention of Trudeau and that devoted to the newly elected Obama years earlier, and the risk of being judged on style before substance is proven: “… while it’s always nice for Canada, or her representatives, to be in America’s and the world’s eye, too much should not be made of it”.
Designer Tammy Beauvais, based out of the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal liaised “back-and-forth” with Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau for about a month before producing a beaded circle cape as a gift for First Lady Michelle Obama.
And then someone in the hundreds-strong crowd of flag-holding supporters shouted a somewhat nonsensical rejoinder: “Raptors!” Malia, 17, sat with Sandra Oh and Sasha, 14, sat with actor Ryan Reynolds and his wife, actress Blake Lively. But even if that’s not the case, he said the “close friendship and relationship” between the two countries will ensure that some policies carry into the future.
But Trudeau also struck an nearly poignant note with his closing line, when our rookie, raven-haired PM made an observation about the toll the last eight years has taken on his USA counterpart.
The lucky recipients of Washington’s most coveted ticket arrived to hors d’oeuvres including smoked-duck poutine, among other fine finger foods.
A baked Alaskan halibut casserole garnished with spring vegetables will be served in a tureen for the first course, to be followed by a salad of roasted apricots in ginger, cardamom and White House honey and sitting on a bed of greens.
“Being able to draw on his experience and his wisdom as I face the very real challenges that our countries, and indeed our world, will be facing in the coming years is something that I appreciate deeply”, Trudeau said at a news conference in the Rose Garden. The president pronounced them “spiffy”. Trudeau’s wife wore a bright purple dress with coral flower trim by Canadian designer Lucian Matis.
These $60 all-weather booties – “Muttluks” by Toronto’s Marianne Bertrand – went to the “First Dogs” Sunny and Bo.
But his visit may be overshadowed by the raucous race to succeed Obama in the November 8 presidential election.
Trudeau offered gentle words for the Obamas’ daughters, the offspring of a political leader, like him. Obama and Tudeau expressed during their meeting last night resolve to boost bilateral relations mainly in tackling climate change, SAWA Radio reported.
But Biebs got an indirect nod from Obama when he suggested our media-darling-in-chief is now “the most popular Canadian named Justin”.
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In a moment of levity, Trudeau lamented that when he departs Washington he will leave behind his “beloved Expos” – a reference to Montreal’s former baseball team that moved to Washington in 2005 and became the Nationals.
