The two leaders had agreed to begin negotiations on trade and other issues in March after Canada’s general election last week.
During his first meeting with Canadian newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney, US President Donald Trump said his country will continue to have friendly ties with Canada, but he added that he still wants to see the country join the United States.
“I still believe it, but it takes two to tango,” he said. I sat with Kearney in my oval office on May 6th.
The two leaders held public meetings before being involved behind closed doors for further discussions on trade.
“No matter what, we’re going to be friends with Canada. Canada is a very special place,” Trump said.
Responding to Trump’s comments about Canada joining the US, Carney said, “As we know from real estate, there are some places that will never be for sale.” He said “opportunities are partnerships and what we can build together,” and Ottawa is committed to playing a greater role in NATO with increasing defence investment.
“Never say it,” Trump said, referring to Carney’s statement that Canada never sells.
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Trump said Canadians have advantages to joining the US, citing lower taxes and the Free Army, saying, “To be honest, essentially, I’ll give you anyway.” He added that the two leaders would not discuss the idea of the 51st State during their meeting “unless someone wants to discuss it.”
When asked by reporters whether Carney’s comment that Canada is not for sale would make discussion more difficult, Trump said, “No, it’s not at all. It’s just a little time, it’s only time.”
“I never say. I had a lot, a lot that was unfeasible, and they ended up being able to do and doable in a very friendly way, but if it’s for all the benefits,” he said.
The two leaders challenged a troublesome topic in front of the camera, but the problem remained citizens and did not escalate. Trump hinted at a meeting with Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky in February, saying there would not be a “another small explosion.”
Trump and Carney praised each other at the start of the meeting. Trump congratulated Carney on his election victory, calling it “one of the biggest comebacks in political history, and perhaps bigger than mine.” The Liberals had been tracking conservatives for 20 points in a row in a poll in late 2024, but managed to win a minority government.
Meanwhile, Carney thanked Trump for his hospitality and “more than anything” for his leadership.
“You’re a transformative president,” he said, “we will have a merciless focus on American workers, secure borders, end the tragedy of fentanyl and other opioids, and secure the world.”
Kearney was elected to “Canada Change” and said he has a similar focus on securing borders, fighting fentanyl and “a much bigger focus on defense and security.”
Trade Disputes
The two leaders had agreed to begin negotiations on trade and other issues in March after Canada’s general election last week.
Canada is one of the few countries to participate in a trade dispute with the US, and has introduced retaliatory measures after Trump imposed various tariffs on Canada. Other countries, except China, have not taken retaliatory measures to try to reach deals with the US.
Regarding the tariffs imposed on Canada, Trump told reporters that Carney could tell him nothing to lift the tariffs. “That’s exactly what it is,” he said. When a reporter asked if exemptions were possible.
During the campaign, Carney focused on Trump’s tariffs and comments about making Canada a part of the United States, leveraging related anxiety and raising nationalist sentiment.
Canada, along with Mexico and China, was the first country to be targeted by the US president’s strategy of using tariffs to cause changes in trade and security issues. Trump went a step further, saying he should repeatedly become Canada and become the 51st US state.
The president did not frequently raise the idea for a 51st province during his Canadian campaign, but did so shortly afterwards. In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, which aired on May 4, Trump said he would “always talk” to make Canada the 51st state when asked if he would raise the topic during Carney’s first visit.
Trump then reiterated his opinion that the US does not need anything Canada exported, such as energy, cars, timber. He also reiterated his previous comment that he considers the country’s boundaries to be “artificial lines.”
Minutes before the two leaders were scheduled to meet for the first time at the White House, Trump referenced it in his true social platform post, reiterating his message that the US does not need Canadian products.
“I want to work with him, but I can’t understand one simple truth. Why is America subsidizing Canada $200 billion a year, in addition to providing free military protection and more?” wrote Trump.
Trump did not expand the nature of the subsidies. Some Canadian Prime Minister and analysts argue that if oil exports are excluded from the equation, Canada will have a negative trade balance with the US.
Trump began calling Canada the 51st province in late November 2024. He also began calling Trudeau the “governor” of Canada about the same time.
Trump talked about his meeting with Trudeau while Carney was with him in the oval office. He said if the US imposes a 25% tariff, Trudeau said it would mean “the end of Canada.” Trump said it was a “strange answer” and reiterated that his country doesn’t need to “subsidize” Canada.
Trudeau resigned in late March. Carney became prime minister after winning the liberal leadership race and called for an early election on March 23rd. He campaigned for being the best leader in managing Trump’s tariffs and repeatedly spoke about the need for a “strong duty” to take on Trump. His party ultimately fell short of a majority government with three seats.
“There’s too much collateral damage on both sides of the border to innocent people, businesses and workers. Let’s put an end to that,” he said.
