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By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took a hardline stance against several of President Donald Trump's claims during a somewhat contentious Oval Office meeting Tuesday, including Trump's assertion that the United States doesn't "do much business" with Canada.
Why It Matters
Tuesday was Trump's first face-to-face meeting with Carney since the U.S. president launched his sweeping trade war targeting Canada, Mexico and nearly 200 other countries. It was also their first meeting since Carney won Canada's federal election after running on an anti-Trump platform.
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What To Know
"We don't do much business with Canada, from our standpoint," Trump said at the meeting. "They do a lot of business with us. We're at like 4 percent, and usually those things don't last very long. You know, we have great things, great product—the kind of product we sell, nobody else can sell, including military."
Carney immediately pushed back and began by saying Canada would never accede to Trump's repeated demands that it become the 51st state.
"Secondly," Carney said, "we are the largest client of the United States in the totality of all the goods. So we are the largest client of the United States. We have a tremendous auto sector between the two of us, and the changes that have been made have been helpful."
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The Canadian prime minister added: "You know, 50 percent of a car that comes from Canada is American. That's not like anywhere else in the world. And to your question about, is there one thing [that can lower the tariffs]? No, this is a bigger discussion."
"There are much bigger forces involved and this will take some time and some discussions," he said. "And that's why we're here, to have those discussions and that is represented by who's sitting around the table."
Trump struck a far more measured tone in his face-to-face meeting with Carney than he had in previous public statements, in which he repeatedly accused Canada of taking unfair advantage of the U.S., called for it to become the 51st state, and mocked Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, as "Governor Trudeau."
Less than an hour before Carney arrived at the White House, Trump unleashed on Canada in a Truth Social post, writing: "We don't need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain. They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us!"
When they met in the Oval Office, however, Trump was more conciliatory and congratulated Carney on his election victory, telling his Canadian counterpart: "I think Canada chose a very talented person, a very good person."
Carney, meanwhile, emerged as a harsh Trump critic after Canada became one of the targets of Trump's sweeping tariff policy.
After Trump weighed in on Canada's federal election and repeated his call for it to become the 51st state, Carney hit back: "This is Canada -- and we decide what happens here."
He also warned in his victory speech of the looming threat Trump presents.
"As I've been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. These are not idle threats," he said.
"President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never, ever happen," he added. "But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed."
What People Are Saying
When asked Tuesday what concessions the U.S. hopes to secure from Canada, Trump replied: "Friendship."
He added at another point: "Regardless of anything, we're going to be friends with Canada. I love Canada."
Carney addressed Trump's call for Canada to become the 51st state during Tuesday's meeting, telling Trump: "As you know from real estate, there are some places that are not for sale. It's not for sale. It won't be for sale, ever."
What Happens Next
Near the end of his meeting with Carney, Trump said he would be making a "very, very big announcement" soon, though he didn't provide more details.
Carney replied, smiling: "Mr. President, I'm at the edge of my seat."
Update 5/6/25 5:28 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and context.
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