Canadian Prime Minister Makes Historic Visit To Washington

NY Times: Trudeau Making “First Official Visit By A Canadian Leader In 19 Years.” A March 10 New York Times article reported that Trudeau's visit to the White House is “the first official visit by a Canadian leader in 19 years,” and that it was made possible by his and Obama's cooperation on combating climate change:

Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, is to meet with President Obama on Thursday for the first official visit by a Canadian leader in 19 years, a diplomatic honor made possible in part by new pledges of cooperation on combating climate change.

Mr. Obama and Mr. Trudeau are expected to announce new commitments to reduce planet-warming emissions of methane, a chemical contained in natural gas that is about 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide, and which can leak from drilling wells and pipelines.

[...]

In December, Canadian officials helped to push through a historic global climate agreement in Paris.

“The climate relationship with Canada really just ramped up dramatically quickly,” Todd Stern, Mr. Obama's special envoy for climate change, told reporters ahead of Mr. Trudeau's arrival.

Mr. Obama and Mr. Trudeau will meet privately on Thursday to discuss military cooperation, efforts to combat terrorism, improvements in trade and environmental concerns. [The New York Times, 3/10/16]

Right-Wing Media Dismiss Importance Of Visit And Mock Trudeau And Obama's Cooperation

Wash. Times: “Graying Has-Been Obama To Host New Liberal Rising Star, Justin Trudeau Of Canada.” A March 7 article from The Washington Times belittled the visit by harping on the leaders' ages, claiming that Obama “will host a vision of his former self this week,” and saying Obama is “counting down the days until [he leaves] the White House.” The article said Trudeau is simply in a “rock-star phase” like Obama was “when he burst onto the world stage in 2008 and 2009”:

Gray-haired and losing clout by the day, President Obama will host a vision of his former self this week when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at the White House for meetings on their shared liberal agenda and a state dinner.

The charismatic Mr. Trudeau, 44, is a decade younger than Mr. Obama. Accompanying him will be his media-darling wife, 40-year-old Sophie Gregoire, a former model and TV host. They will be the first Canadian first couple to be honored with a glitzy state dinner since 1997.

The hosts, meanwhile, are counting the days until they leave the White House. Mr. Obama, who enjoyed his own rock-star phase when he burst onto the world stage in 2008 and 2009, now jokes often about his hair turning gray, and the reasons for his rapid aging are plentiful. [The Washington Times, 3/7/16]

The American Spectator: “Justin Trudeau Is Condescending & Smug Just Like Obama.” A March 6 article from The American Spectator's Aaron Goldstein claimed that Trudeau “came across as smug and condescending in a manner reminiscent of President Obama.” Goldstein also wrote that Trudeau “wished America paid more attention to Canada or specifically more attention to him,” labeling Trudeau “the Obama of the North”:

I watched this evening's 60 Minutes profile of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

While Lara Logan did try, she was not immune from the younger Trudeau's charms.

But I was not so bothered by Logan as I was by Trudeau himself who came across as smug and condescending in a manner reminiscent of President Obama. Only he did so with a Canadian twist.

[...]

What he really means is that he wished America paid more attention to Canada or specifically paid more attention to him. Justin Trudeau is truly the Obama of the North. [The American Spectator, 3/6/16]

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough: “Justin Trudeau Is Being So Puffed Up By The Press.”

Justin Trudeau is being so puffed up by the press that @MarkHalperin says he's being treated like “the 4th member of a-ha!”

-- Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 10, 2016

[Twitter, 3/10/16]

Fox News Producer Brian Doherty: “Celebrity President Hosting Presser W/ Canada's Celebrity Prime Minister.”

Breaking: Celebrity President hosting presser w/ Canada's celebrity Prime Minister, reflecting on the #GOP's celebrity candidate.

-- Brian Doherty (@BDOH) March 10, 2016

[Twitter, 3/10/16]

NY Post Columnist John Podhoretz: Justin Trudeau Is “Not The Smartest Guy In The World.”

“What is that, a baby?” -- Justin Trudeau (not the smartest guy in the world) https://t.co/9iZuCS6LNV

-- John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) March 10, 2016

[Twitter, 3/10/16]

Breitbart News' Charlie Spiering: “Justin Trudeau Keeps Gushing About Obama - Looks Like A Major Fanboy Living The Dream.”

Justin Trudeau keeps gushing about Obama - looks like a major fanboy living the dream

-- Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) March 10, 2016

[Twitter, 3/10/16]

Wash. Free Beacon's David Rutz: “It's Kind Of Rude For The Press To Interrupt This Great First Date Between Obama And Trudeau.”

It's kind of rude of the press to interrupt this great first date between Obama and Trudeau. They're really hitting it off.

-- David Rutz (@DavidRutz) March 10, 2016

[Twitter, 3/10/16]