--- title: Obama and Trudeau Inspire Memes With 2017 Photos description: Former President Barack Obama and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's dinner meeting has inspired some hilarious memes. canonical: https://time.com/4808883/obama-trudeau-memes/ author: Ashley Hoffman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-06-07T15:48:12.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:06:05.613Z og:title: Obama and Trudeau Had Dinner So It's an Internet Sensation og:description: There was also a hug so the internet is swooning og:url: https://time.com/4808883/obama-trudeau-memes/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5909d580c35ed80f/6988d0924ee2624e4230d9fd/gettyimages-543704098.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4105 og:image:height: 2309 og:image:alt: CANADA-US-MEXICO-DIPLOMACY-SUMMIT og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Obama and Trudeau Had Dinner So It's an Internet Sensation twitter:description: There was also a hug so the internet is swooning twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5909d580c35ed80f/6988d0924ee2624e4230d9fd/gettyimages-543704098.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Internet Is Swooning Over Obama and Justin Trudeau's Casual Dinner Engagement Photos > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=85078d69-ab5b-4c52-9a22-de33eae653d9&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Barack Obama Warns Against the Rise of Populism During a Speech in Montreal [Watch (HLS stream): Barack Obama Warns Against the Rise of Populism During a Speech in Montreal](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/J0LMz6Tn.m3u8) (1:50)  _Published 2017-06-07. Former President Barack Obama warned against the appeal of populism and authoritarianism during a speech in Canada on Tuesday._ by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman Jun 7, 2017 3:48 PM UTC Former President Barack Obama warned against the appeal of populism and authoritarianism during a speech in Canada on Tuesday. by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman Jun 7, 2017 3:48 PM UTC Former [President Obama](http://time.com/4808664/barack-obama-canada-montreal-populism/) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dined together in Montreal Tuesday night, and the photos have lit up the internet. It was Obama’s first [post-presidency visit](http://time.com/4792761/barack-obama-vacation-list/) to Canada. According to the Obama Foundation Twitter account, they met to discuss “their shared commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.” Trudeau shared a similar photo, captioned: “How do we get young leaders to take action in their communities? Thanks @BarackObama for your visit & insights tonight in my hometown.” Earlier on Tuesday Obama spoke in front of an audience of 6,000 at the Montreal Chamber of Commerce where he criticized the current administration’s actions on both climate change and diplomacy. “Obviously I’m disappointed with the current American administration’s decision to pull out of Paris,” Obama[ said during his speech](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/obama-canada-warns-against-isolationism-populist-alternatives-n769036). His remarks came a week after Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris agreement, arguing that the climate accord has hurt American businesses to the benefit of other countries. Obama used Tuesday’s speech to say that clean energy jobs were booming. He also also cited history to caution against the rise of [populist and authoritarian leadership](http://time.com/4808664/barack-obama-canada-montreal-populism/). But then came his dinner with the young Trudeau at the Liverpool House restaurant in St. Henri. No matter how serious the discussion between the two leaders was, it didn’t stop the internet from creating memes about the pictures. What do you get when you supply Twitter with Trudeau plus Obama at a dinner table minus their neckties? A jumbo meme opportunity, of course. There was a candle. > [](https://twitter.com/ObamaFoundation/status/872289650546790400) > [](https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/872263834559549440) There was a hug. > [](https://twitter.com/Thunda%5Fmunk/status/872390409162457088) > [](https://twitter.com/manic%5Fintent/status/872424985259720704) > [](https://twitter.com/jchaltiwanger/status/872444991129485312) > [](https://twitter.com/yashar/status/872277600915279872) > [](https://twitter.com/owillis/status/872249022853120000) The internet fan fiction machine was churning away as Twitter got imaginative. > [](https://twitter.com/Wolfrum/status/872268848099151872) > [](https://twitter.com/owillis/status/872262276618870784) But what about former Vice President Joe Biden, one user wondered. > [](https://twitter.com/MaggieJordanACN/status/872278398768492546) ## Transcript When the top 1 % amass a bigger and bigger and bigger share of wealth and income, the concern among many in our country's is that, the game is fixed against them, that their governments are serving the interests just of the powerful. And it doesn't help when sometimes those who benefit most from globalization appear to use their political power to further undermine the position of workers. That's a recipe for more cynicism and more polarization, less trust in our institutions and less trust in each other, and it's part of what leads people to turn to populist alternatives That may not actually deliver, but are tempting. If we begin to question the very real gains that have been made over the last several decades, and we violate our principles because of fear and uncertainty, [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Then we can't expect the progress that is just now taking hold in many places around the world to continue. And instead we are going to be inviting in those who argue that democracy doesn't work. That restrictions on the press are necessary and that Intolerance and tribalism and organizing ourselves along ethnic lines are the answers to today's challenges, [ BLANK_AUDIO ] And we see those voices around the world. We're gonna have to find a way to push back on propaganda and cultivate independent journalism, And listen to those with whom we disagree. In Paris, we came together around the most ambitious agreement in history to fight climate change, an agreement that even with the temporary absence of American leadership will still give our children a fighting chance. 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