Canadian Press: WH Aide Asked Trudeau To Convince Trump Not To Nix NAFTA

President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Reports in the Canadian press on Monday cast some doubt on the narrative out of White House as to how President Donald Trump changed his mind about pulling out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Initial press accounts from American media outlets right after Trump decided against nixing NAFTA suggested that the President was persuaded by his aides and impromptu pleas from the leaders of Canada and Mexico.

White House officials told the Associated Press on Monday that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, served as a conduit between Canada and the U.S. following reports that Trump was considering pulling out of NAFTA. The White House aides told the AP that Trudeau called Kushner about the reports and Kushner set up a call between Trudeau and Trump.

However, reports in the Canadian press on Monday offered out a different timeline for the calls between Kushner and Trudeau.

The National Post reported that White House aides reached out to Trudeau’s office to ask the Canadian prime minister to persuade Trump to stick with NAFTA, citing Canadian government sources. The plea from White House aides prompted a call between Trudeau and Trump, as well as with the Mexican president.

Metro News identified Jared Kushner as the the White House aide who called the Canadian government suggesting that Trudeau speak with Trump about NAFTA.

Latest DC
21
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Good thing Trudeau didn’t mention that he’s good buds with Obama, or that agreement would have been torn up the next day.

    My dog, though, isn’t it embarassing that foreign heads of state have to be coached on what to say to the Orange Menace, in the hopes that he doesn’t wreck the worlld-

    I am curious, though, as to what WH aides will whisper in the ear of Duterte or Trumpie-Kim or Erdogan or any other bloodthirsty dictators when they arrive. “Make sure he doesn’t hit the button”??

  2. Dissension in the White House? What an absurd idea!

    (These guys make the Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight look like models of honesty and efficiency.)

  3. I think that Preshitident Trump should focus on imposing a 34% tariff on all Chinese imports and declare China a currency manipulator. And then begin work on stealing Iraqi oil. Nixing NAFTA can wait till until next January.

  4. Trudeau probably cinched the deal by complimenting Lust Object’s rack.

  5. Kushner seems to be angling for an ice pick from Bannon.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

15 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for paulw Avatar for silas1898 Avatar for sysprog Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for inlabsitrust Avatar for mantan Avatar for sonsofares Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for thomasmatthew Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for bankerpup Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for prospero99 Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for clare Avatar for topknot60

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: