Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rebuffs US President Trump’s push to make Canada the 51st US state.
The two leaders met during a tense encounter at the White House on Tuesday.
In their first Oval Office meeting, Trump insisted to the recently elected Carney that it would be a “wonderful marriage” if Canada agreed to his repeated calls to become the 51st US state.
Despite the underlying friction, the tone between Trump and Carney remained cordial.
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But despite Trump’s claims of friendly relations, the body language became increasingly tense between the 78-year-old Republican and the 60-year-old Canadian leader.
“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” Carney told property tycoon Trump, comparing Canada to the Oval Office itself and to Britain’s Buckingham Palace.
“Having met with the owners of Canada throughout the campaign in the last several months, it’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale, ever.”
Trump reiterated his belief in the idea but added, “But it takes two to tango, right?
“We’re not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it.”
However, he refused to declare the idea dead. “I say ‘never say never,’” Trump remarked
Carney said, “won’t be for sale ever, but the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together.”
Relations between Washington and Ottawa have been strained by Trump’s tariffs and his remarks about making Canada the 51st state.
Carney said in his victory speech on April 29 that his country’s previous ties with Washington “based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over.”
Just before Carney’s arrival, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “cannot understand one simple TRUTH — Why is America subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection, and many other things?”
He said that the United States doesn’t need “ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain.”