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President Donald Trump is expected to meet with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday.
The two leaders will seek to reset the relationship between the neighboring nations after growing tensions, which resulted from the president’s focus on tariffs and discussion of making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
In Canada’s 45th general election, Carney’s Liberal Party secured 169 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons, forming a minority government after receiving 44 percent of the popular vote.
The Conservative Party finished close behind, winning 144 seats and capturing 41 percent of the vote. Over 19.5 million Canadians participated in the election.
Trump previously wrote a message to Canadian voters on Truth Social for the nation’s election day on April 28.
“Good luck to the Great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America,” he wrote.
“No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!” the president continued.
Carney won over former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was highly criticized by Canada’s voters and Trump.
Trump has repeatedly called for Canada to become a U.S. state, pushing back against traditional American subsidies for the northern neighbor. The president’s Liberation Day, announced on April 2, also targeted Canada alongside other nations with increased tariffs.
Despite a liberal political agenda, Canada’s leaders hope Trump views Carney’s financial background as positive, seeking to strike deals that will benefit both nations in the future.
