Trudeau will likely follow the pattern of other leaders and downplay his ideological and other differences with Trump when meeting him in person. The US President will also shun a public confrontation. A combination of political, pragmatic, and bureaucratic reasons has been driving Trump’s policies back toward traditional U.S. approaches.

       Based on Trump’s successful meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has little to fear in his encounter with Trump. In his meeting with Abe, and earlier British Prime Minister Theresa May, Trump has shunned personal confrontations—he has restricted his most combative motives to phone calls and twitter rages.

       Furthermore, whereas Trump has attacked Japan, China, and many other countries for various policies, he has not said anything especially bad regarding Canada. He regularly attacks the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but his ire has focused mostly on Mexican-U.S. relations. If NAFTA collapses, the preexisting Canadian-U.S. free trade agreement would sustain bilateral economic ties largely as they are.

       The only challenge will be that, unlike May and Abe, Trudeau is an avowedly liberal internationalist who felt more comfortable working with Obama and has since the election consciously striven to offer the world a contrast to Trump. For example, when Trump signed his executive order temporarily banning certain refugees and immigrants, Trudeau said his country welcomed them. Trudeau has also committed to countering global climate change.

       However, Trudeau will likely follow the pattern of other leaders and downplay his ideological and other differences with Trump when meeting him in person.

       The US President will also shun a public confrontation. A combination of political, pragmatic, and bureaucratic reasons has been driving Trump’s policies back toward traditional U.S. approaches. Trump no longer is campaigning for election, so he can soften stances adopted to win votes.

       Having assumed office and obtained a better understanding of issues, Trump can also reconsider policy positions that may have not been fully thought through earlier.

       Finally, his senior cabinet members have expressed traditional views on international issues, and may have influenced Trump’s thinking on these matters.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.