Trump and Canadian PM Mark Carney to meet amid clashes over trade, annexation
SUMMARY
President Trump is set to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for the first time on Tuesday, amid rising tensions over trade and Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state. The meeting follows Carney’s election win, which was fueled in part by backlash to Trump’s tariffs and annexation comments. In his victory speech, Carney warned that Trump was trying to “break” Canada and declared, “That will never, ever happen.” Trump recently downplayed the border as an “artificial line” and praised the idea of a united North America. Ahead of the meeting, Carney emphasized his focus on resolving trade tensions and maintaining sovereignty. U.S. tariffs have triggered Canadian retaliation, public protests, and a wave of anti-American sentiment. Trump claims the tariffs are necessary to curb drug trafficking, though data shows minimal fentanyl flow from the northern border. Tuesday’s meeting could set the tone for future U.S.-Canada relations.
