The Latest: Obama says will address Parliament during visit to Canada in summer

WASHINGTON – The Latest on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Washington:

9 p.m. ET

U.S. President Barack Obama came well armed with one liners at a state dinner at the White House for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Obama gave a witty toast to Trudeau, joking that his guests shouldn’t have too much fun because the prime minister used to work as a bouncer.

Obama also took the opportunity to take a couple more digs at Donald Trump.

He joked about Canadians resisting the temptation to build a wall to keep out their southern neighbours, a reference to the billionaire’s proposal to build a barrier on the US-Mexican border to curb illegal immigration.

He also joked about a Canadian website that invited Americans to move to Cape Breton if Trump becomes president.

Obama finished with a toast to Canada and its “great alliance” with the U.S.

7:15 p.m. ET

The Trudeaus are greeted by the Obamas at a lavish state dinner at the White House in Trudeau’s honour.

The glitzy affair includes a broad range of people from politics, business and show biz.

The show biz names include actors Michael J Fox and Ryan Reynolds and Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels.

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1:15 p.m. ET

The Trudeaus arrived for a State Department luncheon hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry, who was effusive in his praise for the Canadian prime minister.

“He has a favourability rating that is equal to that of Wayne Gretzky and Rachel McAdams, and well ahead of Justin Bieber,” Kerry said.

“It is very, very clear he has a lot of fans here in the United States.”

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11:20 a.m. ET

Obama said he will address Parliament during an upcoming visit to Canada that will coincide with a North American summit meeting later this year.

The president made the remarks during a joint news conference in Washington following a meeting with visiting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The visit will be part of a so-called Three Amigos summit meeting to take place in June between Trudeau, Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

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10:10 a.m. ET

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama entered the Oval Office of the White House for a brief photo op before starting their formal talks.

The two sat in front of the fireplace, across the room from a desk once used by John F. Kennedy.

They were accompanied by some of their officials, including Canada’s Foreign Minister Stephane Dion and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, and American Secretary of State John Kerry.

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9:30 a.m. ET

President Barack Obama said Canada and the United States are blessed to be neighbours, allies and the closest of friends — even if they may disagree about beer and hockey.

The president welcomed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, to the White House and remembering a visit by Pierre Trudeau a generation ago.

He said Americans don’t always express their appreciation for their Canadian friends.

Amid unseasonable warmth, Obama recalled that his first foreign trip as president was, unfairly, to Ottawa in February.

For good measure, he threw in a few Canadianisms, including an “eh” and a “bonjour.”

The welcome included a military band, a fife-and-drum contingent in Revolutionary War garb and an honour guard.

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9:15 a.m. ET

The prime minister and his wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, were welcomed in front of the White House by President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.

They were also greeted by senior administration officials.

Trudeau and Obama stood to attention as a 19-gun salute rang out and a band played both national anthems.

Both leaders then ventured to the edge of the lawn to shake hands with some gathered schoolchildren, many of them brandishing small U.S. and Canadian flags.

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8:30 a.m. ET

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday on the lawn of the White House in anticipation of Justin Trudeau’s arrival, making for a scene unlike any that has greeted a Canadian prime minister in recent political memory.

The crowd basked in unseasonable warmth under crystal-clear blue skies while a military brass band set the mood on the lawn facing the National Mall.

The building, an icon of presidential power, was decked out in Canadian and U.S. flags up to the balconies of the famous columns of the portico.

Many in the crowd were Canadian expats — some of whom marvelled at the rarity of hearing Americans ask them about their prime minister back home.

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