Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, opening high-stakes talks dominated by Trump’s steep tariffs on Canadian goods and repeated threats to annex America’s closest ally.
In a sign of lingering hostilities, Trump took to Truth Social just minutes before greeting Carney outside the West Wing, asking: “Why is America subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year...?” He added, “We don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship.”
Carney, a former central banker and political newcomer who swept to power on an anti-Trump platform, had promised during his campaign that Canada would “never be owned” by the U.S. “Our old relationship based on steadily increasing integration is over,” he said last week. “The question now is how our nations will cooperate in the future.”
Despite the antagonism, Carney struck a conciliatory tone ahead of the visit. “Canada and the United States are strongest when we work together — and that work starts now,” he posted on X after arriving in Washington on Monday.
Tensions have spiked since Trump returned to the White House. He has reimposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods, proposed tearing up water-sharing treaties, and floated the idea of making Canada the 51st US state, a move Carney has publicly denounced.
Trump’s commerce secretary Howard Lutnick added fuel on Monday, telling Fox Business, “They have their socialist regime and it’s basically feeding off of America... I don’t see how it works out perfectly.”
Trump’s earlier interference in Canada’s recent election, suggesting “ZERO TARIFFS” if Canada joins the U.S. — backfired, helping Carney edge out Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre after the unpopular Justin Trudeau exited the race.
Tuesday’s meeting, with no firm agenda announced, marked the first test of personal chemistry between the two leaders. Experts say Carney must balance pushing back on US demands with avoiding a public clash.
“This is a very important moment for him,” said Genevieve Tellier of the University of Ottawa. “He said he could take on Mr Trump — now he has to prove it.”
In a sign of lingering hostilities, Trump took to Truth Social just minutes before greeting Carney outside the West Wing, asking: “Why is America subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year...?” He added, “We don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship.”
Carney, a former central banker and political newcomer who swept to power on an anti-Trump platform, had promised during his campaign that Canada would “never be owned” by the U.S. “Our old relationship based on steadily increasing integration is over,” he said last week. “The question now is how our nations will cooperate in the future.”
Despite the antagonism, Carney struck a conciliatory tone ahead of the visit. “Canada and the United States are strongest when we work together — and that work starts now,” he posted on X after arriving in Washington on Monday.
Tensions have spiked since Trump returned to the White House. He has reimposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods, proposed tearing up water-sharing treaties, and floated the idea of making Canada the 51st US state, a move Carney has publicly denounced.
Trump’s commerce secretary Howard Lutnick added fuel on Monday, telling Fox Business, “They have their socialist regime and it’s basically feeding off of America... I don’t see how it works out perfectly.”
Trump’s earlier interference in Canada’s recent election, suggesting “ZERO TARIFFS” if Canada joins the U.S. — backfired, helping Carney edge out Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre after the unpopular Justin Trudeau exited the race.
Tuesday’s meeting, with no firm agenda announced, marked the first test of personal chemistry between the two leaders. Experts say Carney must balance pushing back on US demands with avoiding a public clash.
“This is a very important moment for him,” said Genevieve Tellier of the University of Ottawa. “He said he could take on Mr Trump — now he has to prove it.”
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