Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, following weeks of tension over trade and political disagreements. But contrary to expectations, the meeting began on a surprisingly friendly note.
In the Oval Office, Trump told reporters it was a “great honour” to host Carney and congratulated him on what he called a “very big” election victory. He described Carney’s political comeback as “probably one of the greatest” and even suggested it might be “greater than mine.”
“I think I was probably the greatest thing that happened to him,” Trump said. “His party was losing a lot, and he ended up winning. So I really want to congratulate him.”
This tone stood in stark contrast to Trump’s earlier comments, where he declared, “We don’t need anything from Canada,” ahead of the meeting.
Carney Responds with Praise for Trump
Prime Minister Carney responded to the warm welcome by calling Trump a “transformational president.” He noted that both leaders had been elected with promises to bring change and emphasized the importance of US-Canada cooperation.
“The history of Canada and the US is [that] we’re stronger when we work together,” Carney said, highlighting shared priorities like economic development and border security.
Talks on Ukraine and Bilateral Relations
During their conversation, both Trump and Carney agreed on the urgency of resolving the war in Ukraine. Trump stated that Carney “wants it ended as quickly as I do.”
Despite previous trade tensions and political clashes, Trump assured reporters that US relations with Canada remain strong.
“We’re gonna be friends with Canada, regardless of anything,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for the Canadians. It’s a very special place.”
The meeting ended on a positive note, suggesting a potential reset in the US-Canada partnership moving forward.
