President Donald Trump’s first Oval Office meeting with new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday awkwardly featured both leaders holding firm on their stances about tariffs and the talk of Canada becoming the 51st state.
“I still believe that,” Trump said, when asked whether he believes Canada should become the 51st state of the Union. “But, you know, it takes two to tango.”
“Having met with the owners of Canada,” Carney responded, referring to Canadian voters, as he sat next to Trump, “it’s not for sale, won’t be for sale ever.”
The president — who vaguely hinted that a trade deal with America’s northern neighbors could be imminent — also refused to commit to rolling back his tariffs on Canada, while Carney suggested further talks would be held:
Reporter: “Is there anything [Carney] can say to you in the course of your meetings with him today that gets you to lift tariffs on Canada?”
Trump: “No.”
Reporter: “Why not?”
Trump: “Just the way it is.”
“This is a bigger discussion,” the Canadian prime minister later said about tariffs.
Despite the tension, Trump reiterated his desire for friendship: ”We’re going to be friends with Canada. … I love Canada. A lot of — I have a lot of respect for the Canadians. Wayne Gretzky!” And he joked that he was “probably the greatest thing that happened” to Carney, a reference to the theory that Trump’s rhetoric about annexing Canada earlier this year caused the Liberal Party to surge in the polls.
