Trump meets with Brazil’s president: Live updates – CNN

President Donald Trump heaped praise on his Brazilian counterpart, President Jair Bolsonaro, at the beginning of their joint press conference today.

Trump congratulated Bolsonaro on a “tremendous election victory” and an “incredible feat.”

“Truly incredible challenge but the end result was something the whole world was talking about,” Trump said, adding that he expects that the two will “have a fantastic working relationship.”

Trump affirmed that Bolsonaro, who has been called the “Trump of the Tropics,” shares many of his view, “and we certainly feel very, very true to each other.”

He also congratulated the Brazilian President on recovering from a stabbing during his campaign, touting his “great bravery, tremendous bravery.”

Trump, who has not been as warmly embraced by many other leaders on the world stage, said today’s visit was a chance for the two countries “to forge even stronger ties.”

As part of that, Trump announced that he will designate Brazil as a major non-NATO ally.