Sitting alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump did not hesitate to reaffirm that Canada should become 51e US state, citing the “formidable benefits” of a possible annexation for Canadians.
“You know, I am a property developer at heart. If you get rid of this artificially traced line […]when I saw that, I told myself that that’s how it should be, “said the Republican president in front of the journalists inside the oval office on Tuesday noon.
He was alongside the Canadian Prime Minister at the end of their very first meeting in-head since the federal elections, held last week. The Prime Minister’s close ministerial team, the Minister of International Trade, Dominic Leblanc, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and the Minister of Public Security, David McGuinty, is also present in Washington.
Prime Minister Carney has politely retorted to President Trump: “As you know, in real estate, there are places that are simply never for sale. […] After meeting the “owners” of Canada in recent months, it is not for sale, and it will never be. ” The president listened to him with a little smirk, according to the images broadcast by the major television networks.
The tenant of the White House, however, has not shown his idea, saying that you should never say “never”. “There are several things that seemed impossible and that have been achievable, in the end.”
Prime Minister Carney was very little intervened during the exchanges, which lasted about half an hour. However, he insisted a few times on the importance of the commercial partnership between the two countries.
On the issue of the current trade war, Donald Trump said, however, that his counterpart could not tell him who would encourage him to end it. “It’s just like that,” said the president. He then reaffirmed that his government did not want cars, steel, aluminum from Canada.
“We militarily protect Canada, and we will always continue to do it, but it’s not fair. Why do we subsidize Canada to the tune of 200 billion per year? This is difficult for American taxpayers, ”said the president before putting an end to the press conference.
-Flowers in Carney
Despite visibly tense exchanges, the tone of conversations, however, remained quite cordial between the two leaders. The president even described the conversation as “very friendly” and not “dispute”, a reference to the catastrophic meeting with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in the oval office, in February.
President Trump began the interview by congratulating Prime Minister Carney for his victory last week. “His party was shooting from far back, and he ended up winning, so I want to congratulate him. It is surely the best come-back From political history, perhaps even better than mine, “he said, laughing.
Mark Carney sent him the flowers, calling it “transformer president”.
The two counterparts also exchanged a friendly handshake at the time of Mr. Carney’s arrival at the White House. They then headed inward after having made a fist gesture in the air.
Pique just before the meeting
Barely a few minutes before their maintenance, President Donald Trump again strengthened his criticism of trade relations with Canada, in a publication on his truth social network.
“I very much want to work with him, but I do not understand a simple truth: why do the United States subsidize Canada to the tune of $ 200 billion a year, in addition to offering them free military protection and many other advantages? Published the president on Tuesday at 11:23 a.m., about fifteen minutes before his tête-à-tête planned with Mark Carney.
Donald Trump has reaffirmed “nothing” to want what Canada has, quoting cars, timber and energy. “They, however, need everything of us!” The Prime Minister will arrive soon and it will probably be my only important question, ”reads his publication.
More details will follow.
