Trump and Lula's private Oval Office meeting signals lingering strain - and effort to avoid tension

The US and Brazilian presidents did not appear together publicly, but traded compliments after their talks.

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Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the meeting had been "very good" and called Lula "dynamic", while the Brazilian president said he left the meeting "very satisfied".

Still, the absence of a joint Oval Office press appearance could be a a sign that important disagreements remain unresolved.

The two governments still disagree on key issues such as crime, and Lula acknowledged they are especially far apart on trade.

"He always thinks we charge too much tax," Lula said of the leaders' tariff discussions, saying Brazil had proposed a working group to negotiate any trade disagreements within 30 days.