Carney refuses to engage with Trump’s latest annexation taunt on social media – Montreal Gazette
Share this article
"It's an administration that we have to work with," Carney told reporters in Longueuil. "It's our biggest trading relationship."
Just as Canadian officials headed to Washington to advance trade negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump revived his “51st State” rhetoric — and the U.S. ambassador to Canada reshared it.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has previously pushed back directly on Trump’s comments, telling the president last year that Canada is “not for sale.” But this time Carney avoided escalating the matter.
“It’s an administration that we have to work with,” Carney told reporters at a press conference in Longueuil over new infrastructure investment for Quebec. “It’s our biggest trading relationship. It’s our biggest security relationship.”
Asked whether he would consider asking the U.S. ambassador to leave after the envoy shared Trump’s latest remarks online, Carney said: “Short answer is no.”
Trump made the remark Monday evening in a Truth Social post commenting on a story about the weakness of the Canadian economy. He wrote: “51st State!”
Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada and a Trump loyalist, has served in the role since April 2025.
Dominic LeBlanc, the minister leading negotiations with the U.S and a Carney ally, was in Washington on Tuesday, meeting U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, a key figure on the American side in talks over trade and the future of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
Canada, the U.S. and Mexico must decide by July 1 whether to extend the agreement for another 16 years or enter a period of annual reviews that could eventually lead to its expiration.
The U.S. has already opened formal discussions with Mexico on the agreement’s future, but has yet to do the same with Canada.
Could Trump’s latest rhetoric affect ongoing negotiations?
“Look, the president is an exceptionally active user of social media,” Carney said.
“I’m not going to respond to or react to everything.”
Do you have a story tip? Write to me at hnorth@postmedia.com
© Copyright & Licensing 2026, Postmedia Network Inc.
All rights reserved.
