Donald Trump, President of the United States, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) meet this Thursday (7) in Washington, at the White House. The meeting, classified as a working visit and not a state visit, will take place in the west wing of the American presidential complex, specifically in the Oval Office.
Diego Pavão, editor of international affairs, explained in detail to Live CNN about the location and dynamics of the meeting. According to him, as it is a hotel, the reception will be more pragmatic and discreet. “There’s no red carpet, there’s no troops waiting, there’s no anthem playing,” said Pavão.
The structure of the White House
The White House complex is divided into different areas. The central building, called the executive residence, houses the American president’s quarters on the second floor, as well as state rooms and a museum area that tells the history of the place. It is through the north entrance of this building that the traditional presidential inauguration ceremonies take place.
The West Wing, in turn, is described as the true center of power of the American presidency. This is where the presidential offices are located, including the Oval Office and the cabinet room — the space where Trump usually gathers his secretaries and gives interviews to the press. The south lawn, the area from where the president takes off in a helicopter, is also part of the complex. The east wing, according to Pavão, is temporarily out of use due to work to build a ballroom.
around noon, local time, at the entrance to the west wing. The two must then proceed together to the Oval Office, whose window faces the White House’s south lawn. The meeting is scheduled to start at around 12:15 pm Brasília time.
A relevant detail of the visit concerns the security of the Brazilian president. According to Pavão, Lula will be transported to the West Wing by the American Secret Service. “This is not even a courtesy that the country extends. It is a federal law of the United States”, explained the journalist. According to him, every head of state on an official visit to the United States automatically receives Secret Service protection. The GSI, Institutional Security Office, may accompany the president in other vehicles, but the car that will take Lula to the White House will probably be an American Secret Service SUV.
While waiting for the time to travel, Lula is staying in Washington.
