Story highlights The state visit is the first of its kind for a Southeast Asian country under Obama

Obama plans to reiterate his commitment to seeing the TPP deal through

Washington (CNN) President Barack Obama stressed Tuesday that he still he plans to move ahead with the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership deal while he's in office despite bipartisan opposition on trade.

"Right now I'm president, and I'm for it," Obama said at a midday press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "And I think I've got the better argument. I've made this argument before. I'll make it again. We are part of a global economy. We're not reversing that."

The remark seemed a rebuke not only to Donald Trump -- who has lambasted the TPP deal on the campaign trail -- but also Hillary Clinton, who also opposes the plan.

President Obama welcomes Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House August 2, 2016 in Washington, DC.

"I've got some very close friends, people I admire a lot, but who I just disagree with them. And that's okay," Obama said. "I respect the arguments that they're making. They're coming from a sincere concern about the position of workers and wages in this country. But I think I've got the better argument."

But Congress has shown little urgency in moving forward with a vote to ratify the deal, leaving in limbo one of Obama's signature foreign policy objectives.

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