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Carney managed to avoid snorting at the idea that Canadians are champing at the bit for the US healthcare system. But his next move was a masterstroke, turning Trump’s property metaphor against him and even making the president laugh out loud.
“As you know from real estate, there are some places that were never for sale. We’re sitting in one right now,” Carney said, referring to the Oval Office. He also mentioned Buckingham Palace.
“That’s true,” Trump said. He also laughed – a rarity.
Carney went on: “Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign … it’s not for sale, won’t be for sale, ever. But the opportunity is in the partnership, what we can build together.” Trump replied: “Never say never.”
The president had already indicated the idea of a US takeover was largely off the table for their meeting. “We’re not gonna be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it,” he said.
Trump said he loved Canada and wanted the two countries to be great friends (friends sometimes have a weird way of treating each other). He praised Canada’s hockey players and mentioned “the great one”, Wayne Gretzky, although that seemed to complete his knowledge of the nation’s achievements.
Moments of levity were punctuated by occasionally awkward exchanges.Credit: AP
However, it wasn’t all so breezy. The exchange turned awkward when Trump disparaged Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, and described one of his ministers as a “terrible person” who tried to take advantage of the US-Mexico-Canada free trade deal. In the room, this was immediately understood to refer to former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, who is a member of Carney’s cabinet.
Carney told Trump that elements of the agreement would have to change. He added that “part of the way you’ve conducted these tariffs has taken advantage of existing aspects of USMCA”.
And yet, for all the pleasantries and apparent goodwill, there were signs of disrespect. At the outset, Trump overshadowed the meeting by announcing he would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen, and foreshadowing another bombshell before Monday that he said would be “as big as it gets”.
“I’m on the edge of my seat,” Carney said.
Trump also went on a lengthy digression about trade deals with other countries, and how he would soon set a price for them to “shop” in the US. Carney could only sit and listen, with the occasional pursed lip hinting at a held tongue.
Later, at Carney’s solo press conference at the Canadian embassy, a reporter told him she was watching his facial expression during critical moments and wondered what was going through his mind.
“I’m glad that you couldn’t tell,” Carney said.
