Quick quotes: Reaction to Carney meeting Trump to talk trade, security

OTTAWA — The world was watching when Prime Minister Mark Carney met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.

Here’s a sample of what politicians and other prominent figures are saying:

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“It sounds like the prime minister and the president had a very productive meeting … Hopefully, through this meeting with the president and the prime minister, we’ll be able to rekindle our great relationship.” — Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Fox News

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“I think Prime Minister Carney has his work cut out for him, as we saw in the opening press conference with the president. I’m really hopeful that behind closed doors they’ll be able to have a meeting of the minds and come out with an agreement to restart the Canada-U.S. free trade agreement negotiations.

“I’m just as hopeful as anyone else that they’re able to have a reset on the relationship. I don’t think it’s any secret that the relationship with the prior prime minister was very poor and I think led to a lot of the challenges that we’ve had over the last five or six months. So we’ll see if Prime Minister Carney can reset that in the meeting he has today and I’m hopeful that he can.” — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

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“Today, I spoke with @BizCouncilofCan and Canadian Foreign Minister @melaniejoly on the importance of the US-Canada relationship and preventing Trump’s harmful tariffs from ruining our economies. Canada is our friend and neighbor—we must end Trump’s senseless tariffs now.” — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine

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“Good to see Senators Tim Kaine and Lindsey Graham. We had frank and constructive conversations in Washington on our shared interests. Earlier today at the White House, PM @MarkJCarney reaffirmed Canada’s message: a respectful partnership serves both nations.” — Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly

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“The Trump meeting showed that Carney is an adult. Canadians understood that. He is the right person right now.” — Former federal environment minister Catherine McKenna

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“Strong representation for Canada and our workers today. Thank you to Prime Minister @MarkJCarney for his diplomacy and focus. Canada is not for sale.” — Joseph Mancinelli, international vice-president and Canadian director of the Labourers International Union of North America

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“Canadian workers stand with Prime Minister @MarkJCarney today as he meets with President Donald Trump! Our jobs. Our plants. Our mills. Our economy. Our country.” — Lana Payne, national president of Unifor

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“Today’s meeting between Prime Minister Carney and President Trump represents more than diplomatic protocol — it’s the opening chapter in what must be a comprehensive reboot of Canada’s economic strategy … While a deal with the U.S. is a critical first objective for the Prime Minister, it is only one part of a broader economic strategy that will propel Canada’s economy forward.” — Giles Gherson, president and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade

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“Mark Carney’s ‘as you know from real estate, some places will never be for sale’ — very well handled. Trump’s ‘never say never’ was very revealing. Nobody yelling about having the cards here. Firm response delivered by Canada without losing our cool.

“We also found out that (Canada’s) USMCA negotiator Chrystia Freeland still* lives rent free in Trump’s head.” — Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association

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“Very proud to be Canadian watching PM @MarkJCarney represent our country confidently, with moral clarity, and with diplomacy and grace.” — Benjamin Perrin, law professor at the University of British Columbia

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“PM @MarkJCarney was outstanding today. Proud to be Canadian.” — Don Darling, former mayor of Saint John

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.

David Baxter and Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press