WASHINGTON ― Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney 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. We’re sitting in one right now,” 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,” he said. “But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together.”
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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 fellow Liberal Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister in March.
The prime minister’s 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 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 by a reporter whether Carney’s 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. I’ve had many, many things that were not doable, and they ended up being doable.”
Later during their exchange, Carney said: “Respectfully, Canadians view on this is not going to change on the 51st state.”
Trump takes credit for Carney’s election win
The meeting came amid trade tensions between the two nations caused by Trump’s steep 25% tariffs on many Canadian imports.
Trump said he and Carney intend to discuss tariffs on Canada and explore “subtle changes” to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade deal Trump reached in his first term. But Trump made clear he intends to keep the tariffs on Canada. “Why are we subsidizing Canada $200 billion a year or whatever the number might be?”
The $200 billion subsidy Trump claims the United States provides to Canada has been flagged by fact-checkers for counting subsidies but various trade and spending deficits and vastly inflating even what it does count. Trump’s claim is based on the United States’ trade deficit with Canada, which was $45 billion in 2024, and his belief that Canada spends too little on national defense, which still would only account for another $13 billion if Canada met Trump’s preferred spending target.
“No,” Trump said when asked whether there’s anything Carney could say for Trump to lift tariffs on Canada. “Just the way it is.”
Trump said he didn’t like Carney’s “predecessor” ‒ referring to Trudeau, who he often mocked as “Governor Trudeau” ‒ but he spoke kindly of Carney.
Trump opened up the meeting by telling Carney that he was “probably the greatest thing that happened to him,” a reference to how Carney capitalized on Trump’s hostility toward Canada to his advantage politically.
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“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.”
“He ran a really great campaign. He did a really great debate,” Trump said.
Trump said the U.S. will remain friends with Canada “regardless of anything” and said he has “great respect for the Canadians,” singling out retired hockey great Wayne Gretzky and the Washington Capitals’ Alexander Ovheckin, even though the latter is from Russia, not Canada.
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.” He praised Trump for “securing your borders,” ending the “scourge of fentanyl” and “securing the world.”
“The history of Canada and the U.S. is we’re stronger when we work together. And there’s many opportunities to work together,” Carney said.
(This article has been updated to add more information.)
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Carney tells President Trump that Canada is ‘not for sale’
