PRESIDENT Donald Trump spent this morning golfing with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as he hosts his first foreign leader at his winter estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
His wife, First Lady Melania, took a tour with Mrs Abe of Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach.
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First Lady Melania Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister's wife, Akie Abe, spent the day touring a museum and garden
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Mrs Trump was criticised yesterday for not meeting Mrs Abe
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But today they spent the day together and fed koi carp in the ponds of the Japanese garden
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Both couples dined together after arriving at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida
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The pair were expected to have lunch together following a tour of the gardens and a museum
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The ladies spent the day together as their husband's played a round of golf
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Park Administrator Bonnie White Lemay gave them a tour of Morikami Museum and Japanese GardensThis marked her first solo public appearance and came after she was criticised for not spending yesterday with the Prime Minister's wife – a statement from the White House said she had been told Mrs Abe had other engagements.
The First Lady revealed a love for gardening as she confirmed she is committed to ensuring the continuation of the White House gardens.
In a statement to CNN she said: "Both our countries histories and cultures are steeped in the nurture and nature of gardening.'
"Having knowledge of different cultures and customs is a wonderful way to learn and to explore.
"Gardening teaches us the fundamentals in care and the evolution of living things, all while inspiring us to nurture our minds and to relax and strengthen our bodies."
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Protesters gathered near the entrance to Trump National Jupiter Golf Club and Spa where the President and Japanese Prime Minister were golfing
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They held signs opposing the wall the President plans to build between the US and Mexico
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The couples had dinner together last night at the resort in Florida
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They were joined by Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, for dinner
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Mrs Trump wore an all-white outfit as she toured the museum and garden
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The First Lady today expressed her love of gardening
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The pair enjoyed the sunshine as they visited the Japanese GardenAfter a rocky diplomatic start for the President that included contentious phone calls with the leaders of Mexico and Australia, this has been a decidedly friendly weekend of meetings, dinners and golf.
Trump and Abe left Mar-a-Lago early this morning and headed to one of Trump's golf courses in Jupiter, Florida.
The choice to take the Prime Minister to his own resort has been questioned as a possible ethical problem.
John Wonderlich of the Sunlight Foundation told NBC News that if the President is receiving money from a foreign government by hosting at his resort and if the Prime Minister is staying for free "he is donating money to a foreign government", there is "clearly a conflict of interest".
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the Prime Minister was Trump's guest.
Photographers were unable to capture the pair as they played on the 285-acre property, but Trump later posted a photo of them giving each other a high-five on the golf course and tweeted: "Having a great time hosting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the United States!"
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Abe had joked at a joint press conference at the White House on Friday that he was looking forward to playing golf with Trump, even though he's not nearly as good with a club.
He said he planned to use the time to discuss the future of the world, the Pacific region and U.S.-Japanese relations.
The two couples touched down in Florida on Friday afternoon and headed straight to Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club, where they enjoyed a late dinner at its crowded patio restaurant.
They were joined by Robert Kraft, the owner of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, and several interpreters.
A more formal delegation dinner is expected to take place this evening.
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Both Mrs Trump and Mrs Abe took in the beautiful gardens, which include a pond full of Koi
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They were trailed by a large group of reporters and photographers, while their husbands kept their round of golf private
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The First Lady said in a statement she had been told Mrs Abe had previous commitments on her first day in the US, which was why she was not with her
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They spent a moment alone together while at the centre of a bridge in the gardens Awkward moment Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe shake hands for 17 secondsTrump also was expected to tend to other business in Florida, such as calling Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos as part of his continued conversations with foreign leaders.
As a candidate, Trump often railed against former President Barack Obama for his frequent golfing, claiming Obama played more often than players on the PGA Tour.
He said if he won he'd likely be too busy to golf and would only play with people he was looking to make deals with.
He was criticised for this tweet in which he called Prime Minister Abe 'Prime Minister Shinzo', with British comedian Danny Wallace pointing out "you're not President Donald".
This week, after the decision was made to stay his previous travel ban the President is considering signing a "brand new order" to ensure his travel ban is reinstated next week.
And upon meeting the Japanese Prime Minister, the handshake between the US President and Mr Abe faced scrutiny.
Lindsay Lohan has decided it is time to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis and this week said she wants to host a star-studded meeting with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
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Source: President Donald Trump goes golfing with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while the first ladies tour gardens
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