The meeting between the presidents, their first ever, made da Silva "very happy" and "optimistic" about the possibility of getting a meeting as soon as possible that can remedy the "bad feeling" in the connection between the countries, stated the president.
Since Trump introduced 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian goods earlier this year, the countries' relationship has been strained. The meeting in the UN building's catacombs, when Lula was on his way down from the podium in the General Assembly and Trump was on his way up, also enthused the American president.
I saw him, he saw me and we hugged each other. We actually agreed to meet next week, said Trump afterwards.
The tariffs against Brazil were introduced partly in response to the "witch hunt" that Trump claimed the former president - and Trump friend - Jair Bolsonaro was subjected to. Bolsonaro was recently sentenced to 27 years in prison for a coup attempt.
