President Donald Trump welcomed newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the White House on Monday, meeting briefly in the Oval Office before heading into a working lunch and bilateral meetings. The visit comes as Trump publicly questioned the value of US-Canada trade ties, posting on Truth Social ahead of the meeting: “Why is America subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year…?”

Trump opened with a quip about Carney’s recent political comeback, widely credited in part to Canadian voters distancing themselves from the Conservative Party over its perceived closeness to the US president. “I think I was probably the greatest thing that happened to him,” Trump joked, calling Carney’s election “one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics.”

Despite their ideological differences, the two leaders struck a cooperative tone. “I think Canada chose a talented person, a very good person,” Trump said, sitting next to Carney in the Oval Office. “We have some tough points to go over, but that will be fine. We’re also going to be discussing Ukraine-Russia—Mark wants it ended as quickly as I do.” 

Carney, in turn, praised Trump as a “transformational president” and praised shared priorities such as economic revitalization, border security, and combating the fentanyl crisis. “Thank you for your hospitality and above all your leadership,” Carney said. “The history of Canada and the US is that we’re stronger when we work together, and there are many opportunities to do so.”

When asked whether Trump woul like to strike his first new trade agreement with Canada, Trump said, “I would love that. I have a lot of respect for this man… He did a really great debate… He ran a great election, I thought. Something could happen.”

Trump also reiterated his admiration for Canada, referencing national icons like hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. He said that “Regardless of anything we’re going to be friends with Canada,” and that the country is a “very special place.”

Trum once again joked about his long-standing notion that Canada should become the 51st US state. “I still believe it would be a massive tax cut for the Canadians—you get free military, tremendous medical care, and other things,” Trump said. “As a real estate developer… when you get rid of that artificially drawn line… I’m a very artistic person. That’s the way it was meant to be.”

Carney quickly pushed back: “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.”

“That’s true,” Trump responded, before adding, “Never say never.”

Trump that the United States is not prepared to exit the USMCA trade pact, calling it “a good deal for everybody,” while sharply criticizing a former Canadian official involved in its original negotiation.

“I’ll say this about Mark, but I didn’t like his predecessor. I didn’t like a person that worked for him—she was a terrible person,” Trump said during remarks alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House. “She really hurt that deal very badly. She tried to take advantage of the deal, but didn’t get away with it.”

Trump appeared to be referring to Chrystia Freeland, who served as Canada’s foreign affairs minister and later as deputy prime minister under Justin Trudeau. Freeland played a central role in negotiating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“We had a bad relationship having to do with the fact we disagreed with the way they viewed the deal, and we ended that relationship pretty much,” Trump said. “The USMCA is good for all countries… we have a negotiator coming up over the next year or so to adjust it or terminate it.”