Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney celebrates his win and delivers his victory speech. Credit: Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly made his position clear to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Carney, 60, succeeded Justin Trudeau last month.
He addressed supporters in Ottawa early on April 29,
delivering a sharp warning about the shifting global order under Trump’s renewed presidency.
“Humility means preparing for the worst, not hoping for the best,” Carney said.
He warned, “America wants our land, resources, water, and country — never.”
Carney emphasized that these aren’t idle threats.
“Trump is trying to break us so America can own us — that will never happen.”
He acknowledged, however, that the world has fundamentally changed.
Trump, who has openly suggested incorporating Canada as the “51st state,”
had mocked Canada’s sovereignty and called Trudeau the “Governor of Canada.”
On the day of the Canadian election, Trump posted urging Canadians to “vote for him”—despite not being eligible to vote in U.S. elections.
He promised that if Canada joined the U.S., taxes would “cut in half,” military power would “increase for free,” and businesses would “quadruple in size.”
“America can no longer subsidize Canada with hundreds of billions of dollars each year,” Trump said.
“It makes no sense unless Canada becomes a state!”
Trump’s message sparked immediate backlash across Canada’s political spectrum.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre responded,
saying, “Only Canadians will decide our future. Canada will always be proud, sovereign, and independent. We will NEVER be the 51st state.”
Prime Minister Carney echoed that sentiment with a brief but strong post on X:
“This is Canada — and we decide what happens here.”
In his victory speech, Carney shared his vision for Canada’s future without relying on the U.S.
“When I meet with President Trump, we’ll discuss the economic and security relationship between two sovereign nations,” he said.
“But we know we have many other options to build prosperity for all Canadians.”
Carney urged Canadians to support their own economy amidst external pressure.
“Now, united, we are buying Canadian,” he said.
“We are exploring everything this country offers and supporting those targeted by President Trump.”
“United, we will win this trade war and build the strongest economy in the G7,” Carney declared.
The G7, a group of advanced economies, faces rising tension with Trump’s aggressive tariff policies.
Since returning to power, Trump imposed a 25% tax on imports not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, escalating tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
He also publicly taunted Canada, portraying the relationship as a financial burden on the U.S.
Carney, a former central banker, replaced Trudeau as Liberal Party leader in March and led the party to another term.
It remains unclear if the Liberals will maintain a majority in Parliament.
Carney previously responded to Trump’s “51st State” comments,
saying America was “united in name only.”
He added, “The Americans want our resources, land, water, and country… Canada will never be part of America in any form.”
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, seen as a strong challenger, conceded defeat and is projected to lose his seat.
Despite the political tension, Carney concluded his speech with a call for unity:
“Let’s end the division and anger of the past. We are all Canadian.”
“My government will work for everyone,” he said.
“No matter where you live, what language you speak, or how you voted, I will always represent everyone who calls Canada home.”
