Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told President Trump that Canada “is not for sale,” nor will it be.
Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly threatened Canadian sovereignty, but Carney’s Liberal Party staged a political comeback by rallying against Trump’s annexation threats.
- “Never say never,” Trump responded, to which Carney repeatedly said: “Never.”
Zoom in: During the leaders’ first meeting, Trump said he still believed Canada should be the 51st U.S. state, but that it “takes two to tango.”
- “I do feel it’s much better for Canada, but we’re not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it,” Trump said.
- “It would really be a wonderful marriage,” he added.
What we’re watching: Trump said nothing Carney offered would prompt him to lift tariffs on Canada.
- “That’s just the way it is,” Trump said.
- “This is a bigger discussion,” Carney responded. “There are much bigger forces involved, and this will take some time and some discussions, and that’s why we’re here, to have those discussions.”
Our thought bubble: Trump made clear over the weekend that his tariffs were a long-term proposition, particularly as a stick to force manufacturers to return to the U.S.
- When Trump said to Carney, in an Oval Office full of reporters, that he didn’t want cars to be made in Canada, the unspoken half of the thought was that a stiff tariff theoretically accomplishes that goal.
Catch up quick: Carney’s Liberal Party rose in popularity during the Canadian election, largely in response to Trump’s threats to the country’s sovereignty.
- Carney repeatedly rejected the notion that Canada could become part of the U.S.
Between the lines: Ahead of the meeting, Trump criticized Canada-U.S. relations on Truth Social. During the meeting, though, he said, “regardless of anything, we’re gonna be friends with Canada.”
- “Why is America subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection, and many other things?” he wrote prior to meeting with Carney.
- “We don’t need their Cars, we don’t need their Energy, we don’t need their Lumber, we don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain.”