Updated March 8th, 2020 at 07:48 IST

Donald Trump meets Jair Bolsonaro in Mar-a-Lago

US President Donald Trump hailed his country's relationship with Brazil on Sunday, suggesting it was "probably stronger now than it's ever been."

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US President Donald Trump hailed his country's relationship with Brazil on Sunday, suggesting it was "probably stronger now than it's ever been."

He also said that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had been doing a "fantastic job."

The crisis in Venezuela, a possible U.S.-Brazil trade deal and Chinese telecom company Huawei were on the agenda for President Donald Trump's Saturday dinner with Brazil's leader at Trump's Florida resort, an administration official said.

Bolsonaro is on a three-day trip to the United States including a visit to the Miami headquarters of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

He also scheduled meetings with Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, both Republicans.

Bolsonaro, called the “the Trump of the tropics,” has turned his relationship with the U.S. president into a cornerstone of his foreign diplomacy.

The far-right Brazilian leader has used Trump to shore up his base, often praising him and posting videos of himself on social media simply watching Trump speeches on television.

The U.S. trip comes as a welcome respite for him, who at home is dealing with a weak economy and a strained relationship with Congress.

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Published March 8th, 2020 at 07:48 IST