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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered an unequivocal message to President Donald Trump during their first face-to-face meeting Tuesday: Canada is not becoming America's 51st state. The highly anticipated Oval Office encounter marked Carney's debut on the international stage just days after his Liberal Party's victory.
"There are some places that are never for sale," Carney declared firmly in the Oval Office, adding that Canada "won't be for sale ever." Trump's immediate response—"Never say never"—underscored the tension underlying their outwardly cordial exchange.
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of deteriorating U.S.-Canadian relations. Trump's administration had imposed steep tariffs on Canadian goods, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick characterizing Canada as "basically feeding off of America" in a Fox Business interview Monday.
Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that Canadian exports to the United States dropped 6.6% in March while exports to other countries surged by nearly 25%. The $63.3 billion U.S. trade deficit with Canada last year has become Trump's frequent talking point, according to U.S. Trade Representative data.
Hours before receiving Carney, Trump questioned on Truth Social why the U.S. is "subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection." He claimed, "We don't need their Cars, we don't need their Energy, we don't need their Lumber."
Speaking to reporters afterward at the Canadian embassy, with the U.S. Capitol dome strategically visible behind him, Carney described the discussions as "very constructive" while acknowledging the relationship is "being redefined under Trump."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who had previously threatened retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs, offered praise for Carney's performance. "He held his own," Ford told reporters. "It's very obvious that President Trump likes Prime Minister Carney a lot more than he liked former Prime Minister Trudeau."
When pressed about Trump's annexation comments, Carney confirmed he explicitly asked the president to stop making remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state, though he refused to disclose Trump's response. "He's the president, he's his own person," Carney noted.
Trump later addressed the exchange at a White House event focused on next year's World Cup, saying "I haven't called him Governor Carney yet," in reference to his acrimonious relationship with former PM Justin Trudeau. "And maybe I won't."
The two leaders did find common ground on continued dialogue, with Carney confirming Trump will attend the G7 meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta next month. "We agreed to have further conversations in the coming weeks," Carney stated.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman characterized Carney as "the right man for the right time for Canada" in a CNBC interview, highlighting the high stakes for both leaders as they navigate this complex relationship moving forward.
