Donald Trump and Mark Carney share awkward moment in Oval Office as US President clings to idea of annexing Canada

The meeting, in the White House, between US President Donald Trump and Canadian PM Mark Carney was never going to go smoothly.

Donald Trump has endured an awkward meeting with the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, in the Oval Office, which was overshadowed by the US President’s insistence that Canada should be subsumed into the United States.

Mr Trump has spoken, quite persistently, about making Canada the 51st American state since he took office in January. That, along with Mr Trump’s tariffs, sparked a wave of nationalism in Canada and revived Mr Carney’s centre-left Liberal Party, which was previously on course to lose last month’s election heavily.

The Liberals were behind by about 20 percentage points in the polls before Mr Trump began his 51st state campaign.

Instead, in one of the stranger political twists of recent years, Mr Carney won the election quite easily, and Canada’s Conservative leader Pierre Polievre lost his own seat.

During today’s meeting with Mr Carney at the White House, Mr Trump was not chastened.

“Mr President, you have said that Canada should become the 51st state,” a reporter put to him in the Oval Office.

“Well I still believe that,” Mr Trump said.

“But it takes two to tango, right? No I do. I believe there would be a massive tax cut for the Canadians. You get free military. You get tremendous medical care and other things.

“You know, I’m a real estate developer at heart. When you get rid of that artificially drawn line. Somebody drew that line many years ago with like a ruler, just a straight line, right across the top of the country. When you look at that beautiful formation when it’s together. I’m a very artistic person. When I look at that, you know, I said, ‘That’s the way it was meant to be.’ But I do feel it’s much better for Canada. But we’re not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it.

“It would really be a wonderful marriage, because it’s two places that get along very well. They like each other a lot.”

Mr Carney and Mr Trump in the Oval Office. Picture: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP

“Well, if I may. As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” Mr Carney replied.

“That’s true,” said Mr Trump.

“Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the (election) campaign, it’s not for sale, it won’t be for sale ever. But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together,” said Mr Carney.

“I must say, Canada is stepping up the military participation, because they were low, and now they’re stepping up, and that’s a very important thing. But never say never,” said Mr Trump.

During a subsequent press conference, held with America’s Capitol Building as a backdrop, Mr Carney was asked about that moment.

“I was watching your face through the meeting in the Oval Office, and I wondered what was going through your mind when the President spoke about erasing the ‘artificial’ border, and how he criticised your predecessor and Madam Freeland,” a reporter asked.

“Well thank you, I guess, for your question,” Mr Carney said.

“I’m glad that you couldn’t tell what was going through my mind.”

“Oh, I could,” the reporter quipped.

“Look, the President has made known his wish about that issue for some time,” Mr Carney continued.

“I’ve been careful, always, to distinguish between wish and reality. I was clear there, in the Oval Office, as I’ve been clear throughout.

“This is never going to happen. Canada’s not for sale, and never will be for sale. Some things, as I said in the room, some things are never for sale. And he agreed with that.”

Trump’s cryptic hint

The talks between Mr Carney and Mr Trump had the potential to turn very frosty indeed.

During the summit, Mr Trump also cryptically said he would soon make “one of the most important announcements made in many years”. In addition, he said the US had agreed to stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen.

Mr Trump, ever the diplomat, blasted Canada just minutes before he was due to meet Mr Carney for the first time.

“I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney,” Mr Trump wrote on social media ten minutes before the meeting.

“I very much want to work with him. But cannot understand one simple TRUTH — Why is America subsidising Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection?

“We don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain.

“They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us!”

Mr Trump’s claim that the US “subsidises” Canada by $US200 billion a year is dubious. By some measures, the US actually has a trade surplus with Canada. But regardless, the “subsidy” framing is unusual; Mr Trump was referring to Americans buying Canadian goods.

Mr Trump and Mr Carney. Picture: Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Nevertheless, it was a largely cordial meeting where, at points, Mr Trump showered Mr Carney with far more respect than he had given to his predecessor Justin Trudeau. Not once, for instance, did Mr Trump call Mr Carney “governor”, as if the US already boasted sovereignty over its northern neighbour.

“I watched the (election) debate, I thought you were excellent,” said Mr Trump.

“I have watched him come up through the ranks. I have a lot of respect for this man.”

Mr Trump made a reference to the disastrous meeting he had with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in the same office.

“We had a little blow-up with somebody else. That was much different to this. This is a very friendly conversation,” he said.

Mr Trump said the main thing he wanted out of the talks was “friendship” with Canada.

Mr Carney called Mr Trump a “transformational president” and said the two nations were “stronger when we work together”.

The meeting was certainly more cordial than some at the White House recently. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Mr Trump was not letting go of his idea that Canada should become part of the US.

“I’ve had many, many things that were not doable, and they ended up being doable,” he said.

“(Although) only doable in a very friendly way. But if it’s to everybody’s benefit. Canada loves us, and we love Canada, that’s the number one thing that’s important, but we’ll see, over time”

Things got less warm when Mr Trump was asked about whether Canada could do anything to have tariffs removed.

“No,” he bluntly said, adding the US didn't need Canadian cars, steel or aluminium.

Mr Trump commended Canada for paying more towards defence, but continued to complain that it was getting “free” defence from the US.

“We protect Canada militarily, and we always will. That’s not a money thing – we always will. But, you know, it’s not fair.”

“This is a bigger discussion than one thing, and this will take some time,” Mr Carney replied.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had to keep a poker face at times. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

The former banker recently said Mr Trump’s is not saying “idle threats” about taking over Canada but that will “never happen”.

But Mr Carney also sought to cool tensions between the two nations.

“Canada and the United States are strongest when we work together — and that work starts now,” Mr Carney said on X as he arrived in Washington on Monday night.

Mr Trump has called Mr Carney a “very nice gentleman” but made it clear he believed the Canadian was coming begging for a trade deal.

“He’s coming to see me. I’m not sure what he wants to see me about, but I guess he wants to make a deal. Everybody does,” Mr Trump told reporters on Monday.

In another interview, Mr Trump said it was “highly unlikely” the US would use military force against its northern neighbour.

“I don’t see it with Canada”. But it was hardly an unequivocal “no”.

‘Most important announcements made in many years’

Mr Trump used the meeting to spruik “one of the most important announcement that has ever been made”.

It certainly didn’t seem to be about Canada. Later in the meeting Mr Trump also suggested it very possibly wasn’t about trade or a trade deal.

“We’re going to have a very, very big announcement to make, like, as big as it gets, and I won’t tell you on what, but it’s … very positive.

“It will be one of the most important announcements have been made in many years about a certain subject, very important subject.”

Mr Trump said the announcement could be made anytime between Thursday and Monday.

In addition, Mr Trump said the Houthis “have said they didn't want to fight anymore”.

“They just don’t want to fight and they have capitulated.

“We will take their word they say they will not be blowing up ships anymore”.

– with AFP.

Originally published as Donald Trump and Mark Carney share awkward moment in Oval Office as US President clings to idea of annexing Canada