Trump, Carney quibble over buying Canada: ‘Never say never’
Full Remarks: Trump & Carney meeting gets heated
President Trump sat down With Canadian PM Mark Carney for a meeting. During the meeting Carney told the President that Canada will never be for sale.
President Donald Trump and newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met in Washington Tuesday.
The meeting came heightened tensions between the two countries, as Trump has levied steep tariffs and made calls for Canada to become "the 51st state."
When Carney’s Liberal Party scored its stunning comeback victory last month, the vote was widely seen as a rebuke of Trump.
Canada tariffs
FILE - Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a press conference in Ottawa, Canada on May 2, 2025. (Photo by Patrick Doyle/AFP via Getty Images)
The backstory:
A decades-old alliance between the two countries was upheaved this year with Trump’s tariffs.
Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum and tariffs on other products outside the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in some cases ostensibly to address relatively low volumes of fentanyl intercepted at the border between the two countries.
By the numbers:
Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states.
Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada.
Dig deeper:
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.
RELATED: Trump eases auto tariffs in bid to boost US manufacturing
Trump says Canada should be 51st state
Canadian PM: Canada will never be for sale
President Trump sat down With Canadian PM Mark Carney for a meeting. During the meeting Carney told the President that Canada will never be for sale.
What they're saying:
The Republican president has repeatedly threatened that he intends to make Canada the "51st state."
He said in an interview with NBC’s "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday that the border is an "artificial line" that prevents the two territories from forming a "beautiful country."
The prospect is deeply unpopular among Canadians, a sentiment that Carney echoed Tuesday during his Oval Office meeting with Trump.
"As you know, from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale," Carney said, pointing out the White House and Buckingham Palace as examples before saying Canada is another.
"It's not for sale. Won't be for sale, ever. But the opportunity is in the partnership, and what we can build together," Carney added.
Trump went on to say "never say never," to which Carney mouthed, "Never! Never!" while smiling.
RELATED: What would it take for Canada to become the 51st state?
Trump Carney meeting
US President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2025. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile:
Trump was warm in person towards Carney during their Oval Office meeting, and congratulated Carney on his recent win, saying that "Canada chose a very talented person, a very good person."
Addressing the elephant in the room, Trump at one point mentioned that this was a friendly conversation - "This is not going to be like we had another little blowup with somebody else," alluding to the February Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
READ MORE: Trump-Zelenskyy meeting gets heated: 'Gambling with World War III'
Big picture view:
Earlier on Tuesday, on social media, Trump said that the United States didn't need "ANYTHING" from its northern neighbor, a contrast to his friendly tone.
Carney has stressed that he was elected to specifically "stand up" to the U.S. president and that Canada is "in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis."
Carney told reporters last week his meeting would focus on immediate trade pressures and the broader economic and national security relationships.
Trump teases ‘big announcement’
What's next:
While speaking with reporters, Trump teased a "big announcement" coming later this week or early next week, but didn’t elaborate on what it would be about.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the White House schedule for President Trump, and background information on Canadian tariffs, the economy and Trump’s remarks were taken from The Associated Press and previous FOX Television Station reportings. This story was reported from Detroit.