Canada's New Prime Minister Met Trump And Told Him That Canada Will "Not Be For Sale, Ever”
Mark Carney firmly rejected the idea of annexation, saying, “There are some places that are never for sale. We're sitting in one right now.”
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney firmly told president Donald Trump that "Canada is not for sale" and "won't be for sale, ever" in response to Trump's repeated suggestions that Canada should become the 51st state of the US.
The exchange took place on Tuesday, May 6, during Carney’s first White House visit after winning the April elections on a promise to stand up to Trump, as trade tensions and tariff disputes escalated between the two countries.
During the meeting, Trump said again he wanted to make Canada the 51st US state, saying “It would really be a wonderful marriage," adding that Canada would benefit from joining the US, including through possible tax cuts.
Carney firmly rejected the idea of annexation, saying, “there are some places that are never for sale. We're sitting in one right now,” adding Canada '”is not for sale. Won't be for sale, ever."
Trump responded by saying “never say never” but Carney smiled and mouthed the word “never” several times to the reporters around him.
“Respectfully, Canadians’ view on this is not going to change,” Carney later added.
Trump also jokingly took credit for Carney’s election win, saying he was “probably the greatest thing that happened to him,” calling Carney's victory "one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics. Maybe even greater than mine,” referring that his win was due to his promise to stand up to Trump’s tariffs increase.
Since February 2025, the US has imposed a 25% tariff on nearly all Canadian imports and more recently, extended the 25% tariff to Canadian automobiles and auto parts.
The US said these tariffs are needed to protect national security-- specifically to stop fentanyl trafficking into the country-- and to help reduce the amount of goods the US buys from other countries compared to what it sells.
Trump made it clear he would not remove the tariffs no matter what Carney said.
He added that the tariff conflict between the US and Canada is very “friendly” and said that his conversation with Carney over tariffs would not “blow up,” after he and Vice President JD Vance had a huge argument with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February.
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