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In first face-to-face meeting, Carney tells Trump Canada will 'never' be for sale

WASHINGTON — In their first face-to-face meeting today, Prime Minister Mark Carney told U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada will "never" be for sale. When reporters questioned Trump in the Oval Office on his past comments about making Canada a U.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney disembarks a government plane as he arrives in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

WASHINGTON — In their first face-to-face meeting today, Prime Minister Mark Carney told U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada will "never" be for sale.

When reporters questioned Trump in the Oval Office on his past comments about making Canada a U.S. state, Trump — taking a tone very different from the one he's used in past months — downplayed the suggestion.

Trump said “it takes two to tango” but did not close the door on annexation, suggesting it would be a "wonderful marriage if it could happen" and he would "never say never."

Carney said there are some places that are not for sale and pointed to the White House as an example.

Trump said that regardless of what happens, the United States is always going to be friends with Canada.

The public portion of the high-stakes meeting was largely cordial, with Carney calling Trump a "transformational" president and Trump referring to Carney as a "very talented person."

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

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press