In a striking exchange at the White House on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly rejected former US President Donald Trump’s provocative suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States.
The diplomatic meeting, intended to focus on economic and trade discussions, veered into unusual territory as Trump repeated his long-standing grievances over the US-Canada trade relationship and defense spending.
“There are some places that are never for sale,” Carney declared in the Oval Office. “Canada is not for sale — and never will be.” Trump, however, was undeterred, responding with his trademark defiance: “Never say never.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney claps back hard at Trump’s idea about Canada becoming the 51st state.
Trump: “As a real estate developer, when you get rid of that artificial line, when you look at that beautiful formation together, I said, ‘that’s the way it was meant to
The verbal sparring did not appear to derail the broader dialogue, with Trump later downplaying the tensions.
When asked whether Carney’s rejection of statehood might complicate bilateral trade talks, he replied, “Time will tell… But I say, never say never.”
Carney remained resolute, telling reporters later, “Respectfully, Canadians’ view on this is not going to change on the 51st state.”
Carney responds to Trump, saying Canada should be the 51st state and that they do little business with the United States: “Respectfully, Canadians’ view on this is not going to change on the 51st state. Secondly, we are the largest client of the United States.”
The meeting unfolded just hours after Trump posted a scathing message on his Truth Social platform, raising questions about America’s longstanding financial and military support for Canada.
“I cannot understand why the US is subsidizing Canada by $200 billion a year,” Trump wrote, adding that the US also provides “FREE Military Protection” and receives little in return.
Trump’s remarks reignited debate over the US-Canada trade deficit, a familiar theme during his previous presidency.
According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the US recorded a $63.3 billion trade deficit with Canada in 2024, importing over $400 billion worth of goods.
Trump officials have argued that the supposed $200 billion “subsidy” includes US defense expenditures from which Canada benefits indirectly.
“We don’t need their cars, we don’t need their energy, we don’t need their lumber — we don’t need anything they have, other than their friendship,” Trump wrote, adding, “They, on the other hand, need everything from us!”
Trump also downplayed the importance of the Carney meeting on Monday, suggesting the Canadian prime minister was simply seeking a new deal.
“He’s coming to see me. I’m not sure what he wants to see me about, but I guess he wants to make a deal. Everybody does.”
Meanwhile, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick escalated tensions by characterizing Canada as economically dependent on American support.
In a Fox Business interview, Lutnick said, “They have their socialist regime, and it’s basically feeding off of America. They’ve been doing this for decades.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, Canada remains one of America’s top trading partners. In 2024, bilateral goods trade between the two countries totaled approximately $762 billion, a testament to their deeply intertwined economies.
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