Stock market today: S&P 500 in weekly loss as trade war fears intensifyy
Investing.com -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney forcefully dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Canada could become the “51st state,” calling the idea impossible and doubling down on Canada’s sovereignty in the final stretch before the April 28 federal election.
Carney was responding to a story from Radio-Canada, which reported that Trump referred to Canada as the “51st state” during a March 28 call with the Prime Minister.
“I think, to be clear, as I’ve said to anyone who’s raised this issue in private or in public, including the President, that it will never happen,” Carney said.
Carney confirmed that Trump has raised the idea on more than one occasion, including during the March 28 call and again during a press briefing yesterday, but emphasized there was no ambiguity in his response. “The President brings this up all the time… He raises it all the time. Okay? But then the question is, what’s going to be done with it? Does he understand where we stand… He is under no illusions. Never, absolutely not, never.”
According to Carney, the two leaders did agree to begin security and trade negotiations following the election. “We agreed as sovereign nations that these negotiations will begin after the election on Monday,” Carney said. “That is how it was reported back, and that’s absolutely accurate.”
Still, the Prime Minister warned that Trump’s repeated remarks reflect deeper risks facing Canada’s independence. “The Americans want to break us so they can own us. Those aren’t just words. That’s what’s at risk. That’s why we have to build Canada strong.”
Carney used the moment to frame the election as a critical referendum on leadership. “That’s the crucial choice that Canadians need to make… Who can stand up to President Trump, who can build Canada strong, who has the experience in order to do that.”
He added that future talks must be serious and principled. “This has to be a serious discussion between sovereign nations. It’s not a photo op, it’s not a visit to Mar-a-Lago, it’s not any of those things.”
“The essence of the discussion and where we moved the conversation to was exactly what I said. Treated us with respect as a sovereign nation,” Carney clarified.
Closing his remarks, Carney tied national strength to economic leverage: “We can give ourselves far more than the Americans can take away… That’s why I am asking people for their vote so we are in a position to accomplish it.”