On Friday night, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Florida to meet with President-elect Donald J. Trump at Mar-a-Lago, following Trump's announcement of potential tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico starting on his first day in office. This visit marks Trudeau as the first leader from the Group of 7, a coalition of the world's wealthiest democracies, to engage with Trump after his election. 

Trudeau's visit included a dinner with Trump and a group of senior officials chosen for key roles in the incoming administration, along with Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. Although Trudeau planned to stay in the area overnight, he would not be lodging at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club in Palm Beach. In response to Trump's threats of a 25 percent tariff unless Canada and Mexico address the flow of undocumented migrants and drugs into the U.S., Trudeau is working on a plan to counter this policy. 

Trump’s proposed tariffs were seen as the beginning of a possible renegotiation of the trade framework between the three countries under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement. LeBlanc is tasked with developing stricter border control measures and has mentioned the possibility of deploying additional personnel, drones, and helicopters to enhance border management. 

The importance of security and trade was underscored by the presence of key figures at the dinner, including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, designated as interior secretary; Howard Lutnick, nominated for commerce secretary; and Mike Waltz, proposed as national security adviser.