Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first big test as Canada’s leader came fast — a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. And while things were mostly calm on the surface, one reporter’s question caught fire — and so did Carney’s sharp response.
It all started when Trump suggested erasing the border between Canada and the U.S. He even floated the wild idea of Canada becoming a U.S. state.
During a press conference later that day at the Canadian Embassy, a journalist pointedly asked Carney: “I was watching your face during the meeting… what was going through your mind when the President talked about erasing the border?”
Carney paused, then hit back with a sharp, cold line: “I’m glad you couldn’t tell what was going through my mind.”
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Without missing a beat, the reporter replied, “Oh, I could.”
Reporter: I was watching your face during the meeting.. what was going through your mind when the President talked about erasing the border..
Carney: I’m glad that you couldn’t tell what was going through my mind
Reporter: Oh I could pic.twitter.com/ulnpYr98uA
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 6, 2025
But behind that viral exchange was a bigger, more serious story: how Canada and the U.S. tried to fix their tense relationship. And how Carney, calm and calculated, attempted to bring facts and strategy to a meeting where Trump, as usual, brought chaos.
Trump had recently suggested that Canada’s existence as a separate country was outdated. He said the border is just an “artificial line” and even joked that Canadian statehood could mean “lower taxes and free military protection.”
Carney, standing firm, told him: “Some things will never be for sale, and he (Trump) agreed to that.”
This isn’t just talk. Trump is back to threatening tariffs — especially on cars — hoping to push factories out of Canada and into the U.S. But Prime Minister Mark Carney didn’t back down. The prime minister says he “pressed the case” on lifting U.S. tariffs, highlighting Canada’s efforts to meet U.S. concerns, including increased spending on border security to combat fentanyl.
Carney also talked about building a bigger plan — a new trade and security deal — that would help both countries deal with global threats, including economic competition from Asia.
Even Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who often criticizes Ottawa’s government, said she hopes Carney and Trump can work together to update the trade deal, CUSMA.
Trump, as usual, got off track and made false claims about Canada. He also insulted Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s former deputy, without directly naming her.
Featured image via Screengrab
