President Obama on Tuesday said he isn't giving up his push for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement despite growing opposition in both parties.

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

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The trade deal is opposed not only by Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE, the Republican nominee for president, but also by Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE, the Democrat Obama hopes will be his successor.

“I’ve got some very close friends, people I admire a lot, but who — I just disagree with them. And that's OK,” Obama said.

“They're coming from a sincere concern about the position of workers and wages in this country,” he added. “But I think I've got the better argument and I've got the evidence to support it.”

The president voiced optimism that the deal could still pass during the lame-duck session of Congress after the election, when the deal won’t be used as “a political football.”

“Hopefully, after the election is over and the dust settled, there will be more attention to the actual facts behind the deal,” he said.

“I will sit down with people on both sides, on the right and on the left," he added. "I will sit down publicly with them, and we will go down through the provisions. I would enjoy that, because there is a lot of misinformation.”

But the chances of the trade deal moving the deal through Congress after the election appear increasingly dim.

Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Graham signals support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee this year Trump signals he will move to replace Ginsburg 'without delay' MORE, both oppose the deal. Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineNames to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court Barrett seen as a front-runner for Trump Supreme Court pick Biden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states MORE (D-Va.) was a vocal supporter of TPP but reversed his position after he was tapped to be Clinton’s running mate.

Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOcasio-Cortez to voters: Tell McConnell 'he is playing with fire' with Ginsburg's seat McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Video shows NYC subway station renamed after Ruth Bader Ginsburg MORE (R-Ky.) have both said they have deep reservations about the pact.

Obama acknowledged there are “legitimate” anxieties about expanding free trade and the impact of globalization on jobs and incomes.

But he countered that “trying to pull up a draw bridge on trade would only hurt us and hurt our workers.”

“The answer is, how do we make sure that globalization, technology, automation, those things work for us, not against us?” he said. “And TPP is designed to do precisely that.”

The president’s official visit with Lee was intended to boost the 12-nation agreement, which is a centerpiece of Obama’s effort to strengthen America's diplomatic and economic focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Singapore is a one of four original parties to the deal, and Lee is a vocal proponent.

In an usually tough tone for a joint press conference on American soil, Singapore’s leader warned that the U.S. could do lasting damage to its worldwide reputation if it backs away from the TPP, since other partner nations made political sacrifices to ensure the deal got done.

“If at the end, waiting at the altar the bride doesn't arrive, I think there are people who are going to be very hurt,” he said. “Not just emotionally, but really damaged for a long time to come.”

- Updated at 1:50 p.m.