New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Slams Trump in First National Address

Just minutes into his first speech as Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney took aim at former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Carney, 60, officially succeeded Justin Trudeau last month after Trudeau stepped down following a decade in office. Now leading the Liberal Party, Carney addressed supporters in Ottawa early on April 29, outlining his priorities and taking a firm stance on U.S.-Canada relations.

“Humility also means understanding that part of governing is preparing for the worst, not just hoping for the best,” Carney said. “For months, I’ve warned that America wants our land, our resources, our water — even our country. That’s never going to happen.”

“These aren’t empty threats,” he added. “President Trump is trying to break us so the U.S. can claim ownership. That will never — ever — happen. But we have to face the truth: the world has changed.”

His comments followed recent jabs from Trump, who mocked Canada’s sovereignty and joked that it should become the 51st U.S. state. Trump even referred to Trudeau as the “Governor of Canada.” Though he once said Canada could become America’s “greatest state,” Trump claimed the country only functions because the U.S. is “spending $200 billion a year to prop it up.”

Carney, however, pushed back hard. “We’ve moved past the shock of America’s betrayal — but we can’t forget the lessons. We must look after ourselves, and more importantly, each other.”

He made it clear that any future talks with Trump would be between two independent nations. “When I sit down with President Trump, it will be to talk about the economic and security partnership between two sovereign countries. And we’ll do so knowing we have many other global options to build prosperity for Canadians.”

Carney also rallied Canadians around economic unity. “In this crisis, we’re choosing to buy Canadian. We’re tapping into the strength of our own people, supporting neighbors affected by Trump’s policies, and standing strong in a storm we didn’t create.”

He concluded with a bold economic vision: “Together, we’ll win this trade war and build the strongest economy in the G7 — an economy that works for everyone.”

The G7, or Group of Seven, includes seven of the world’s most advanced economies: the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.