U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he'll meet withPrime Minister Mark Carney at the White House "within thenext week."
Trump was asked about Carney just days after the Liberals' election win — a come-from-behind victory that was driven in large part by many Canadians' anger over Trump's tariffs and his taunts about making Canada a U.S. state.
Trump and Carney spoke by phone on Tuesday. The president claimed Carney told him, "Let's make a deal."
"He couldn't have been nicer and I congratulated him," Trumpsaid.
The Prime Minister's Office did not confirm a date for themeeting between the two leaders. The PMO's readout of Tuesday's phone call said only that Trump and Carney would meet in the near future.
Carney has also spoken by phone with King Charles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Council President Antonio Costa since his election win. In a post on social media, Zelenskyy said he and Carney discussed steps that could bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine, as well as Canada’s G7 presidency this year. Zelenskyy thanked Canada for its contributions to Ukraine's defence.
In a news release Wednesday evening, the PMO said Zelenskyy congratulated Carney on his election and that theprime minister "underscored Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in achieving lasting peace and security."
"The two leaders agreed that a durable peace can only be achieved with Ukraine at the table," the release said, adding that the leaders agreed to stay in touch and meet at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alta., in June.
The PMO said in a separate news release later Wednesday that Costa congratulated Carney, who emphasized Canada's role as a stable and reliable trading partner.
"To that end, the leaders agreed to strengthen the close economic relationship between Canada and the European Union," it said.
Carney said in his victory speech that when he sits down withTrump, "it will be to discuss the future economic and security relationship between two sovereign nations."
"And it will be with our full knowledge that we have many, many other options than the United States to build prosperity for all Canadians," he added.
The meeting could begin the process of charting a new path for what was once one of the most stable and friendly bilateral relationships in the world. But Trump's actions since his return to the White House have shaken Canadians' trust in the United States.
Trump first threatened last November to impose economywide tariffs on Canada, linking the duties to theillegal flow of people and deadly fentanyl across the border. U.S. government data show a very small volume of drugs crosses the border with Canada.
Trump ramped up his provocations by calling then-prime minister Justin Trudeau a "governor" and insisting Canada should become a U.S. state.
During the election campaign, Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre both sought to present themselves as the best person to navigate the tense relationship withTrump's administration. Carney and Poilievre both condemned Trump's tariffs and threats throughout the campaign.
The president said Wednesday that both Carney and Poilievre "hated Trump."
"And it was the one that hated Trump I think the least that won," he said. "I actually think the Conservative hated me much more than the so-called Liberal."
During the election, Carney called for a strong mandate from voters to allow the government to push back on Trump's threats. The party fell short of a majority when theConservatives picked up seats in Ontario.
Trump said Canada's "tight race" will make it "very complicated for the country." The president described Carneyas "a very nice gentleman" and said he expects to have a "great relationship" with Canada.
Canadian officials cycled through Washington for weeks before the election to lobby against tariffs. Trump ultimately went ahead with the duties last month before partially walking them back a few days later. Trump also implemented tariffs on automobiles, steel and aluminum.
Trump's tariffs have upended the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade, called CUSMA. The continental trade pact was negotiated during the first Trump administration and the president at the time called it "the best agreement we've ever made."
CUSMA was up for a mandatory review next year but Trump's administration has made it clear they won't wait.
Carney will have to be pragmatic as he takes the reins, said Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U.S. relations and theexecutive director of the Future Borders Coalition. She said the prime minister needs to balance an uncertain trade relationship with the expectations of angry Canadians athome.
"I am worried about leading with the heart and not the head," Dawson said.
She said that as Carney's people prepare for the White Housemeeting, they should read through Trump's executive orders on economic policy and find areas where Canada can help theadministration meet its goals on energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and pharmaceuticals.
Dawson said Carney should enter the Oval Office with theintent to engage on the CUSMA review and make it a productive conversation.
Carney must also show up with concrete defence spending commitments and demonstrate ongoing efforts to enhance security at the border, she said.
While the prime minister will feel the weight of Canadian anger and expectations, Dawson said feeling insulted is not a productive negotiating position.
"Try to check our anger and hurt feelings at the door," she said.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jose Luis Magana
