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Topics: Donald Trump, Mark Carney, Canada, Politics, US News
Callum Jones
Topics: Donald Trump, Mark Carney, Canada, Politics, US News
Donald Trump invited Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the White House this week, and to say the two leaders' meeting was awkward is certainly an understatement.
And to be honest, that should hardly come as a surprise considering the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Amid Trump's insistence on rolling out tariffs to many nations across the globe, the 47th POTUS has told Canada the 'solution' for the country to avoid such tariffs would be to become America's 51st state.
Even with 25 percent tariffs now imposed, Canada has remained firm in its stance against becoming another state of America.
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Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was never 'going to happen', while his successor, Mark Carney, confirmed in a meeting with Trump on Tuesday (6 May) that his nation is 'never [going to be] for sale'.
Likening Canada to the UK's Buckingham Palace or the US' Oval Office, Carney resolved: "As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.
"Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign in the last several months, it's not for sale. Won't be for sale, ever."
Elsewhere in the Oval Office meeting, Carney seemed to fact-check Trump over comments the president made about dealings with its neighbor.
"We don't do much business with Canada," Trump said, which Carney swiftly hit back to. Take a look below:
"We are the largest client of the United States, in totality of all the goods," Carney quipped.
"We have a tremendous auto sector between the two of us and the changes made have been helpful. 50 percent of a car that comes from Canada is American; that's not like anywhere else in the world."
As for Canada becoming the 51st state, Carney made it clear it's certainly not on the cards - but that didn't stop Trump probing.
Carney said Canadians are 'masters in our own home' and 'can give ourselves far more than any foreign government can ever take away'.
Trump followed up by saying 'Never say never', before he added: "I’ve had many, many things that were not doable and ended up being doable."
Body language expert Beth Dawson analyzed the moment on the steps of the White House, stating the Canadian PM seemed 'assertive' but also 'submissive' and 'apprehensive'.
Dawson added: "The elbow touch, however, shows that he wants to establish connection on equal terms. His expression is one of determination.
"Carney is not passive, but he is also careful not to come across as overly forceful and he does seem slightly intimidated."