Mark Carney met with Donald Trump at the White House and said Canada is 'never for sale'

Prime Minister Mark Carney just met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

The leaders discussed the federal election, tariffs, the president's belief that Canada should be the 51st state, and more.

Carney joined Trump in the Oval Office on May 6, 2025, for the first in-person meeting between the leaders since Canada's federal election.

Trump congratulated Carney on winning the federal election and called him prime minister, not governor, like he did with Justin Trudeau.

"I think I was probably the greatest thing that happened to him," Trump said of Carney's election victory.

He also said it might be "one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics."

"You're a transformational president with a focus on the economy," Carney said to Trump.

Then, reporters started to ask questions about trade between Canada and the U.S., tariffs and Trump's 51st state comments.

"We're going to be friends with Canada. Regardless of anything, we're going to be friends with Canada," Trump said.

"Canada is a very special place to me," he continued. "I love Canada."

When someone asked about Canada becoming the 51st state, Trump said, "I still believe that, but it takes two to tango."

"We're not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it," the U.S. president said.

Carney jumped in and told Trump, "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," he said. "But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together."

"Never say never," Trump said.

Then, Carney looked at the cameras, shook his head and mouthed "never, never."

When asked if Carney's comments about Canada not being for sale would have an impact on negotiations, Trump said, "No, not at all."

But then he seemed to walk back on that and said, "Time will tell."

Later, Trump took shots at Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland related to USMCA, the free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

"I won't say this about Mark, but I didn't like his predecessor. I didn't like a person that worked — she was terrible actually, she was a terrible person and she really hurt that deal very badly because she tried to take advantage of the deal and she didn't get away with it."

Trump turned to Carney and said, "You know who I'm talking about."

"We had a bad relationship having to do with the fact that we disagreed with the way they viewed the deal," the president said.

Carney said that the agreement is the basis for broader negotiations.

"Some things about it are going to have to change, and part of the way you've conducted these tariffs has taken advantage of existing aspects of USMCA, so it's going to have to change," the prime minister told Trump.

Later in the meeting, Trump also said that calling Trudeau a governor probably didn't help him in the election.

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