'Do not expect white smoke': Carney lowers expectations for first Trump sit-down [View all]
Source: Politico
05/02/2025 01:52 PM EDT
OTTAWA — Canada is hitting back at President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions about making Canada the 51st state by calling on King Charles to personally deliver Canada’s throne speech on May 27. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who will meet Trump at the White House on Tuesday, said he asked the monarch to perform the ceremonial role, underscoring Canada’s sovereignty.
“It’s a very clear message being sent to other countries around the world. And it’s an honor for us,” Carney said in French in his first press conference since the Liberals won a minority government in Canada’s federal election on Monday.
The invitation to the monarch, who is Canada’s head of state, is a dramatic example of the country’s “elbows up” defiance of Trump’s repeated insults and annexation threats. “On Monday, Canadians elected a new government to stand up to President Trump and to build a strong economy,” Carney said.
Carney said he expects “difficult, but constructive” conversations with Trump and senior administration officials next week, brushing back suggestions he might face an embarrassing dressing down similar to what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced in March.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/02/carney-expectations-trump-sit-down-00324131
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