In a meeting with newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Donald Trump made a remark that immediately captured attention, following Carney’s firm stance on Canada’s sovereignty and its refusal to become the 51st state of the United States.
The two leaders met at the White House on May 6, marking their first official interaction since Carney’s election victory on April 28. Despite tensions over the 25 percent tariffs the U.S. had imposed on Canada under Trump’s administration, the meeting was characterized by mutual compliments, with Trump praising Carney as a “very talented person,” while Carney called Trump a “transformational president.”
However, the atmosphere quickly shifted when the topic of Canada’s future was broached. Carney, who had echoed the sentiments of his predecessor Justin Trudeau, made it clear that Canada would not entertain the idea of joining the United States.
