United States President Donald Trump met Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong today and expressed his gratitude for Singapore’s role in hosting the historic DPRK-USA Singapore Summit. He also thanked Singapore for its friendship and hospitality.
“We have a very interesting meeting in particular tomorrow, and I think things can work out very nicely. But we appreciate your hospitality and professionalism and your friendship. Thank you very much,” President Trump told PM Lee as they began their working lunch at the Istana.
The US President is scheduled to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Sentosa tomorrow morning which is going to be watched by the entire world community.
Prior to the working lunch, President Trump had a one-on-one meeting with PM Lee followed by an expanded bilateral meeting with other senior officials. The two leaders emerged from their meetings about 45 minutes later to shake hands and pose for photos.
Top officers in the Trump’s administration including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and others present in the meeting at the Istana.
From Singapore’s side, members of PM Lee's delegation included Deputy PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Home and Law Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.
The US President, who turns 72 on June 14, was also presented with a birthday cake during the working lunch, according to a photo posted by Singapore's foreign minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
In a statement today, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said, “The President and the entire US team are looking forward to tomorrow’s summit. We have had substantive and detailed meetings to date, including this morning with the North Koreans.”
“I would like to thank our Singaporean hosts for their gracious hospitality in helping to organise the summit,” he added.
Earlier, Trump’s motorcade which also included his presidential car nicknamed ‘The Beast’, left the Shangri-La Hotel, where he is staying, shortly before noon to make the short journey to the Istana. Crowds of curious onlookers lined the convoy’s route, taking photographs and waving.
Trump also waved to the crowds who lined the streets.
Feeling about his excitement to be in Singapore Trump tweeted this morning saying it was “great to be in Singapore, excitement is in the air”.
Trump reached Singapore last night as he landed at Paya Lebar Air Base, after attending the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Canada.