Mark Carney wins Canadian prime minister election
Mark Carney won the Canadian election to retain power as prime minister.
WASHINGTON ― Canadian Prime Minister told President Donald Trump directly that Canada is “not for sale” as the two men met in the Oval Office fresh off Carney leading his Liberal Party to a pivotal election victory last week.
“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” Carney said to Trump at the beginning of their high-stakes bilateral meeting May 6 at the White House. “Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign the last several months, it’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale ever.”
“The opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together,” Carney added.
Carney was able to seize on Trump’s rhetoric targeting Canada, including Trump’s hopes to make Canada the “51st state” to catapult him to his April 28 election victory after trailing considerably in polls. Carney replaced Justice Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister.
His comments came after Trump told reporters he still believes Canada would be better off being part of the United States.
“I still believe that, but it takes two to tango, right?” Trump said. “I mean, I believe it would be a massive tax cut for the Canadian citizens. You get free military, you get tremendous medical cares and other things. There would be a lot of advantages.”
Asked moments later by a reporter whether Carney’ position makes the discussion more difficult, Trump said not at all.
“Time will tell,” he said. “It’s only time. But I say, never say never.”
The meeting came amid trade tensions between the two nations caused by Trump’s steep tariffs on Canadian imports.
Trump opened up the meeting by telling Carney that he was “probably the greatest thing that happened to him,” a reference to how Carney was able to use Trump’s hostility toward Canada to his advantage politically.
“But I can’t take full credit,” Trump said. “His party was losing by a lot, and he ended up winning. So, I really want to congratulate him with probably one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics, maybe even greater than mine.”
Carney thanked Trump for his hospitality and leadership. “You’re a transformational president,” Carney said, pointing to Trump’s “focus on the economy, with a relentless focus on the American worker.”
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.