Donald Trump reportedly told Brazil's president, "I love you," during an unusual 40-minute phone call ahead of today's critical meeting, according to reports.
The president allegedly concluded his conversation with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with the effusive comment after expressing admiration for the politician's career, having acknowledged he had researched the 80-year-old Brazilian leader's background.
Trump welcomed President Lula to the White House on Thursday, where discussions reportedly focused on crime, tariffs, and additional economic matters, reports Mirror UK. It comes after a bizarre bulge was spotted in Trump’s pants - leading to an alarming accusation.
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Trump and Lula have experienced a tense relationship since Trump began his second term in office.
America previously levied a 40 percent tariff on all Brazilian goods during a trade dispute, while Trump sparked controversy when he penned a letter to his counterpart suggesting that criminal charges against far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro should be dismissed.
Trump launched a charm offensive prior to the visit, and the pair engaged in an extended phone call days before their scheduled face-to-face discussions.
During their Friday conversation, Lula reportedly indicated that he wanted matters concerning international conflicts, and the United Nations' role, resolved.
According to Brazilian publication GloboNews, President Trump concluded the call casually, saying "I love you" to his fellow politician.
Trump told Brazil's President Lula that he loved him
Last year, Trump cited the Bolsonaro situation as one of the driving factors behind his decision to impose higher tariffs on the country.
The two met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York back in September, where Trump described Bolsonaro as "a very nice man," and noted that they shared an "excellent chemistry."
Brazilian Finance Minister Dario Durigan told state broadcaster EBC on Wednesday: "We are preparing to engage with Trump in a constructive manner. I'm very optimistic about this conversation."
Key items on the Brazilian negotiators' agenda include big tech, rare earths, and critical minerals.
Last year, Trump claimed the levies were imposed due "in part to Brazil's insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans."
President Lula hit back, warning that any new tariffs would be met with reciprocal measures.
The meeting arrives as the U.S. President stoked fears of a full-scale return to conflict in the Middle East, threatening that bombs will "restart" if a deal is not reached.
Trump renewed his warning just hours after suspending his Project Freedom initiative, which had aimed to free hundreds of vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iranian blockade.
He warned: "If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before."
The Navy division of Iran's secretive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that "safe and stable" passageway through the strait will be "ensured. It continued that the "aggressor's threats were neutralised," referring to the pause in "Project Freedom."
Trump's warning came a day after his Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the offensive stage of the Iran war was now 'over.'"
