President Trump and Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney exchanged pointed remarks about tariffs and sovereignty during their first Oval Office meeting, while maintaining a façade of bilateral friendship.
At a Glance
- Trump met with Canada’s newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office for their first official meeting
- Carney directly asked Trump to stop referring to Canada as “the 51st state,” firmly stating that “Canada is not for sale”
- Trump maintained a hard stance on trade, refusing to lift tariffs despite Carney’s appeals about Canada being America’s “biggest client”
- Despite tensions over trade and sovereignty, both leaders publicly projected friendship, with Trump declaring “Canada loves us and we love Canada”
First Meeting Sets Tone for US-Canadian Relations
The Oval Office hosted the first official meeting between President Donald Trump and Canada’s Mark Carney on May 6, 2025, just days after Carney secured his first full term as Prime Minister on April 29. The meeting highlighted both the personal dynamics between the leaders and substantive policy differences that will shape bilateral relations moving forward. Trump publicly congratulated Carney on his electoral victory, telling reporters he had “a lot of respect for this man” and noting that Carney “ran a really great campaign,” even joking about having influenced the Canadian elections.
While maintaining a cordial atmosphere, the meeting revealed significant tensions on trade and sovereignty issues. Despite these differences, Trump expressed personal affection for Canada, calling it a “very special place” and mentioning family connections. “Canada is a very special place to me. I know so many people that live in Canada. My parents had relatives that lived in Canada, my mother in particular,” Trump stated during the meeting, adopting a markedly friendlier tone than in previous social media posts about Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump: "I'm glad that you couldn't tell what was going through my mind…I think we established a good basis today." pic.twitter.com/p0FeLiLVih
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 6, 2025
Sovereignty Concerns Take Center Stage
A significant point of contention emerged regarding Trump’s previous suggestions about Canada potentially becoming the “51st state” – remarks that the new Canadian Prime Minister directly addressed. Carney confirmed to reporters that he specifically asked Trump to stop using this language, describing it as unhelpful to bilateral relations. The Canadian leader took a firm stance on national sovereignty, repeatedly emphasizing that “It’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale. Ever,” according to multiple sources present at the meeting.
“There are some places that are never for sale,” Carney stated firmly during the joint press appearance, to which Trump responded with a characteristically ambiguous, “Never say never,” further highlighting the tension beneath the friendly exterior of the meeting.
The exchange underscored the challenging position Carney faces in maintaining Canada’s sovereignty and economic interests while negotiating with an administration that has taken a tough stance on trade and international agreements. Carney’s campaign strategy, described as “elbows up,” reflects this defensive posture as Canada prepares for potentially difficult negotiations ahead.
Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told President Donald Trump that Canada is “not for sale” during a meeting in the Oval Office. | @brittybernstein https://t.co/fH2YuZVSVy
— National Review (@NRO) May 6, 2025
Trade Tensions Dominate Economic Discussions
The economic dimension of US-Canada relations dominated substantial portions of the meeting, with Trump refusing to lift new tariffs despite Carney’s attempts to position Canada as America’s “biggest client.” Trump’s hard-line stance on trade deals was unmistakable as he indicated little flexibility on revising current trade arrangements. “Everyone says, ‘When, when? When are you going to sign deals?’ We don’t have to sign deals. They have to sign deals with us. They want a piece of our market. We don’t want a piece of their market,” Trump declared during the meeting.
“I love Canada,” Trump said during the Oval Office meeting, but his administration’s policies tell a different story. The United States plans to review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with Trump expressing his desire for the US to produce its own cars and steel – a position that directly impacts Canadian manufacturing and exports. These economic tensions will be central to the relationship as both countries move toward potential renegotiation of their trade framework.
Carney described the negotiations as “the beginning of redefining the long-term partnership between the two countries,” signaling that despite current disagreements, both nations recognize the importance of their deeply intertwined economic relationship. With Canada being America’s largest trading partner and the complex supply chains that cross the border, the stakes for resolving these tensions remain extremely high for both economies.
