‘Never ever’: Canadian PM Mark Carney confronts Donald Trump at White House
Canada’s PM wasn’t afraid to front up to Donald Trump in the Oval Office with a blunt message – but the US president has a blunt response.
World
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has bluntly told Donald Trump that Canada was “never for sale, ever”.
The comments came at the first meeting between the two leaders at the White House.
It had the potential to turn very frosty due to the US’ tariffs and at Mr Trump’s suggestion that Canada could be the US’ “cherished 51st state”.
He repeated those claims in the Oval Office on Tuesday, US time, replying to Mr Carney “never say never”.
Nonetheless it was a largely cordial meeting where, at points, Mr Trump showed Mr Carney far more respect that it had to his predecessor Justin Trudeau. Not once, for instance, did Mr Trump call Mr Carney “governor” as if the US already held sovereignty over its northern neighbour.
During the summit, Mr Trump also cryptically announced 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.
The meeting between Mr Carney and Mr Trump threatened to get off to a very bad start, however, after the US President blasted Canada just minutes before he met the country’s new leader for the first time.
“I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney,” Mr Trump said 10 minutes before he was due to meet the PM at 11.30am in Washington on Tuesday (1.30am, Wednesday, AEST).
“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, and many other things?
“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! The Prime Minister will be arriving shortly and that will be, most likely, my only question of consequence.”
Mr Trump’s claim that the US “subsidies” Canada by $US200 billion a year is highly disputed. By some measures, the US actually has a trade surplus with Canada.
Canada is ‘never for sale, ever’
Yet the meeting was mostly positive with Mr Trump even gushing with praise about Mr Carney.
“I watched the (election) debate, I thought you were excellent. I have watched him come up through the ranks. I have a lot of respect for this man”.
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”.
Inevitably, Mr Trump’s comments about Canada becoming America’s “cherished 51st state” came up.
Mr Carney was adamant.
“There are some places that are never for sale – I’m sitting in one right now,” he said, referring to the White House.
“Canada is not for sale (and) won’t be for sale ever.
“But the opportunity is in the partnership”.
‘Never say never’
Mr Trump replied with “never say never” although he also said that it “takes two to tango, right”.
He said it would be a “wonderful marriage”.
Things got less warm when Mr Trump was asked about whether Canada could so anything to have tariffs removed.
“No,” he bluntly said, adding the US didn't need Canadian cars, steel or aluminium.
“This is a bigger discussion than one thing, and this will take sometime,” Mr Carney replied.
Mr Carney’s centre left Liberal Party last week won the Canadian election.
The former banker has 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,” 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,” 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’
Donald Trump used the meeting to spruik “one of the announcement that have 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”.
Originally published as ‘Never ever’: Canadian PM Mark Carney confronts Donald Trump at White House
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