Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Carney didn’t reach Zelensky-level tension. But it wasn’t all neighborliness

President Donald Trump met with new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday. The encounter was civil but lacked warmth, highlighting a strained chapter in U.S.-Canada relations.

Their Oval Office meeting stayed calm, but unease lingered beneath the surface. It wasn’t openly hostile, nor was it chummy. What once was an easy alliance now seems uneasy and transactional.

Trump began the conversation with a comment on geography.

“Somebody drew that line many years ago with, like, a ruler,” Trump said of the U.S.-Canada border. “When I looked at that, I said: ‘That’s the way it was meant to be.’”

Carney later told reporters, “I’m glad that you couldn’t tell what was going through my mind,” referring to that remark.

Carney, a former central banker, remained composed but did not stay silent. Though Trump dominated the discussion speaking 95% of the time Carney made his stance clear on one issue: Canada’s sovereignty.

“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” Carney said. Trump replied, “That’s true,” allowing Carney to continue.

“We’re sitting in one right now,” Carney said, referencing the White House. “Having met with the owners of Canada, it’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale ever.”

That statement echoed a key campaign message from Carney’s recent election win. His Liberal party rode a wave of anti-Trump sentiment to a comeback victory last month.

Carney had reinforced that message before arriving. He announced a visit from King Charles III, Canada’s head of state, to emphasize the nation’s independence.

Despite these signals, Trump has not backed off his casual talk about annexation.

“Never say never,” Trump said in the Oval Office. Carney responded by mouthing the word “never” repeatedly.

“I’ve had many things that seemed undoable,” Trump added. “They ended up being doable, and in a friendly way.”

Still, Trump did not push the issue further during their discussion. The annexation idea, while deeply unpopular in Canada, was defused at least temporarily.

Later, Carney told reporters he reminded Trump that revisiting the topic wasn’t “useful.”

“But he is the president,” Carney added. “He will say what he wants.”

Trump also appeared to back away from using past insults. When asked about calling Carney “Governor Carney” as he once did with Justin Trudeau Trump said, “No, I haven’t done that yet and maybe I won’t.”

The two agreed to meet again at the G7 summit next month in Alberta. Trump had not committed to attending before.

Still, tensions remained. Just hours before the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social, slamming Canada’s reliance on the U.S.

“We don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship,” Trump wrote. “They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us!”

Despite that message, Trump took a more measured tone once Carney arrived. He praised Carney’s political comeback and signaled interest in continued talks.

“We have some tough points to go over, and that’ll be fine,” Trump said.

The meeting ended quickly, with Trump reiterating his stance on tariffs.

“We don’t need Canadian cars or steel,” he declared. “There’s nothing Carney could say to change that. Just the way it is.”

Compared to other foreign leader visits under Trump, Tuesday’s session was calm. Earlier this year, Trump berated and dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit.

“We had another little blow-up with somebody else,” Trump said, referencing Zelensky. “That was much different. This is a very friendly conversation.”

While polite on the surface, the meeting reflected a deeper diplomatic chill. The long-standing friendship between the U.S. and Canada remains under strain. Both leaders left the room with their positions intact but the path forward remains uncertain.

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