The Latest: Carney meets with Trump in Washington to talk trade, security

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney faced the first major test of his term today — meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

Carney said last week he expected a “difficult but constructive” conversation. The prime minister said he sees this meeting as the beginning of discussions on a broader economic and security agreement between Canada and the U.S.

While Trump said Monday he wasn’t sure what Carney wanted to meet about, the two leaders agreed in a phone call early in the recent election campaign that Trump would meet with the winner of that vote.

Since returning to office, Trump has threatened Canada with broad-based tariffs and has talked about wanting to make Canada a U.S. state.

Here’s the latest on the day’s events. All times Eastern.

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5:11 p.m.

In a social media post, Prime Minister Mark Carney thanks U.S. President Donald Trump for inviting him to the White House.

Carney says the meeting marks “the beginning of a new relationship between Canada and the United States” based on respect, common interests and the “transformational benefit of both our nations.”

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4 p.m.

Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad says he is infuriated because Trump has no plans to drop tariffs on Canada following a meeting with Carney.

He predicts people are going to lose jobs and says British Columbia will face huge budget problems from the tariffs. He’s calling on the provincial government to tap into B.C.’s natural resources.

He says he has no interest in becoming a U.S. citizen and while the United States is an important trading partner, Canada should “always remain unique and separate.”

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3:35 p.m.

Carney is asked if Canada plans to continue with its retaliatory tariffs, since U.S. President Donald Trump has said one of his tariff goals is to drive auto manufacturing out of Canada and into the United States.

Carney replies that he and his team of ministers stressed the strategic position of the North American auto industry in their meeting with Trump today, arguing that a broader manufacturing base can “enhance the competitiveness” of American automakers facing competition from Asian companies.

Carney describes the meeting as “a very complex” negotiation on a wide range of issues.

When a reporter asks in French about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s talk of a future separation referendum, Carney says Canada is “stronger together” and that as an Albertan, he knows how he would respond.

Carney says he feels better about Canada U.S. relations because the tone of the discussion with Trump matched what happens “when you’re trying to find solutions.”

The prime minister says he “pressed the case” on lifting U.S. tariffs. Carny points to increased spending on border security to deal with the Trump administration’s stated concerns about fentanyl and says “huge results” are starting to be seen. The original 25 per cent tariff threat on all Canadian and Mexican imports was based on stated American concerns about fentanyl and illegal border crossers coming from Canada and Mexico.

Carney is asked about Trump continually saying Canada should be a U.S. state. Carney says he asked Trump to stop saying that. When pressed on how the president responded, Carney says that Trump is his own person.

The prime minister says this is a negotiation between sovereign nations and Trump knows Canada will only accept a deal that’s in the country’s best interest.

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3:30 p.m.

At a press conference at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, Carney says he had a “constructive” discussion with Trump as the leaders of two “sovereign nations.”

He says this marks “the end of the beginning” of a new stage in the Canada-U.S. relationship. The prime minister says the future direction of that relationship will be determined by the outcome of trade and security talks.

Carney says the two sides are committed to meeting again in the future, with the next face-to-face meeting between himself and Trump set for next month at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta.

A journalist asks Carney what was going through his mind when Trump talked about “erasing” the “artificial line” that separates Canada and the U.S.

Carney says he made it clear that Canada is not for sale. “Some things will never be for sale, and he (Trump) agreed to that,” he adds.

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3:00 p.m.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says it looks like Carney “held his own” in his meeting today with Trump.

Ford says it’s a good start to a productive relationship.

He says it’s promising that Trump seems to like Carney a lot more than he liked former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

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2:30 p.m.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she hopes Carney and Trump can start negotiating an update to CUSMA behind closed doors.

Smith says she doesn’t “think it’s any secret” that the relationship between Trump and Trudeau was “very poor” and links that dynamic to the “challenges” of the last five or six months.

Smith adds she’s “hopeful” that Carney can “reset” that relationship.

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2:14 p.m.

Carney and the Canadian delegation leave the White House after meeting with Trump and senior members of his administration.

The two leaders took several questions from reporters prior to the private portion of their meeting, which lasted about an hour.

Carney did not take questions from reporters before leaving the White House grounds in a black SUV.

Carney is scheduled to hold a press conference at the Canadian Embassy in Washington at 3:20 p.m.

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12:35 p.m.

Carney and Trump continue to take questions from reporters.

Trump is asked when the investments he talks about will start to be reflected in broader economic data.

Trump claims it’s already happening and then goes off on a long digression about California Gov. Gavin Newsom. At one point he asks the room, “Did you ever hear of Gavin Newscum?”

When asked if there’s anything Carney could say to change his mind about tariffs, Trump says “no.” When asked why, Trump responds, “Just the way it is.”

Carney repeats that Canada will never be a state and says discussions with the U.S. will take time.

Trump says this is a “friendly conversation” and there won’t be a “blow-up” like there was when he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office earlier this year.

The president says that he doesn’t want cars or steel from Canada. Trump claims again that American taxpayers are subsidizing Canada to the tune of “$200 billion, or whatever the number might be.”

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12:25 p.m.

Carney and Trump take questions from reporters before the private portion of their meeting and working lunch begins.

Speaking about tariffs, Trump says that companies can avoid the duties if they move production to the United States. He compares the United States to a “luxury mall” that the rest of the world has been ripping off for the last “50 years.”

Trump says he “didn’t like” Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau and “a person who worked for him” — a reference to former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland.

Trump doesn’t refer to Freeland by name but calls her “a terrible person,” says “you know who I’m talking about” and claims she tried to “take advantage” of CUSMA.

Carney says that some aspects of the North American trade deal will have to change.

Trump is then asked about Carney’s commitment to do more business with other countries. Trump says he’s not worried about that and claims that Canada buys more from the U.S. than the U.S. does from Canada.

Trump says the U.S. makes “the best military equipment” and countries always come back to U.S. suppliers.

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12:13 p.m.

When asked if the CUSMA trade deal is dead, Trump says it is not. He says NAFTA was “the worst trade deal” and CUSMA is up for review next year.

When asked what kind of concessions he is looking for, Trump says that he just wants “friendship” from Canada.

A question comes up about Trump’s rhetoric about annexing Canada. Trump says that it would mean lower taxes and free military protection for Canadians and calls the border an “artificially drawn line” crafted “many years ago.”

The president says that statehood for Canada is not on the agenda, unless someone wants to change that.

Carney says that some places are “never for sale.”

He adds that he sees the benefit in continued partnership with the U.S., which he credits for the revitalized push for higher military spending among NATO allies.

Trump is asked what Canada’s refusal to consider U.S. statehood means for trade talks. “Never say never,” Trump replies.

Trump says trade talks with China are not happening right now but insists that a meeting with Beijing will happen eventually. Trump says the U.S. isn’t losing anything through its trade war with China.

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12:10 p.m.

Trump congratulates Carney on his election win, saying that he watched the campaign closely.

Trump says there will be tough conversations with Carney on various topics, including the Ukraine-Russia war.

Carney thanks Trump for his hospitality and refers to him as a “transformational” president.

Carney says he also plans to transform Canada by developing jobs, securing the border against fentanyl and securing the Arctic.

Carney says things are better when Canada and the U.S. work together and he sees many ways the two countries can collaborate.

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11:55 a.m.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted at the White House by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump gives a thumbs-up just before Carney’s car pulls up. The two men shake hands and exchange words briefly before posing for a photograph.

Nearby reporters shout questions but the two leaders did not respond before heading inside.

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11:30 a.m.

Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The meeting is scheduled to start soon and will include a working lunch.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he plans to ask Carney why the U.S. is “subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection, and many other things.”

Carney is scheduled to hold a press conference at the Canadian embassy in Washington after the meeting ends.

The Canadian delegation joining Carney at the meeting includes Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford, chief of staff Marco Mendicino and senior adviser Lisa Jorgensen.

In addition to Trump, the U.S. side will include Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, chief of staff Susie Wiles, Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra.

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9:30 a.m.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is preparing for a critical meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Carney arrived in Washington Monday, joined by Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Public Safety Minister David McGuinty.

The meeting at the White House was scheduled to start at 11:45 a.m. with a working lunch.

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

David Baxter, The Canadian Press