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Brian Mulroney Serenades Donald Trump At Fundraising Gala

Mulroney sang the same song to Reagan in 1985.

A gala fundraiser in Florida got two surprises on Saturday when U.S. President Donald Trump showed up, followed by an impromptu serenade by former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney.

The event for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. was being hosted by Canadian musician David Foster. According to the Palm Beach Daily News, Trump and his wife Melania appeared after the dinner's main course and sat at Mulroney's table.

Foster then called up Mulroney on stage and invited him to sing either "Danny Boy" or "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." The former Canadian leader obliged with the latter as Foster accompanied him on keyboards.

"Mr. President, I hope this doesn't fracture Canadian-U.S. relations," Mulroney joked with the Trumps, who are his longtime neighbours in Palm Beach.

Doug Kass, an author and trader, posted video of the performance (Mulroney's segment starts at around 2:30):

Mulroney famously performed the song with former U.S. president Ronald Reagan in 1985 at what became known as the Shamrock Summit in Quebec.

The fundraiser for the Boston-based cancer research institute has been hosted at Mar-a-Lago before, but this year saw opposition from hundreds of medical students, doctors and health-care professionals, reported the Boston Globe. They argued that Trump's immigration ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries threatens overseas patients who may be treated at the facility as well as its research program.

Last month, the institute said it was too late to cancel the gala, but would try to avoid politically charged venues in the future, said the Toronto Star.

Mar-a-Lago is both a private club and also houses Trump's private residence.

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