U.S. President Donald Trump offered unusually warm words for Canada and Prime Minister Mark Carney during a White House meeting on Tuesday, striking a friendlier tone than in previous exchanges between the two leaders.
Speaking alongside Carney in the Oval Office, Trump praised the prime minister as a “very strong, very good leader” and spoke of “mutual love” between the two countries. The comments marked a sharp contrast from his earlier criticism of Canada’s trade practices and calls for the U.S. to rely less on Canadian exports.
“It’s a tough situation because we want to make our cars here,” Trump said. “At the same time, we want Canada to do well making cars. So we’re working on formulas, and I think we’ll get there.”
The meeting focused on tariffs and the cross-border industry. U.S. trade measures have severely impacted Canada’s auto, steel, aluminum, and lumber sectors.
Carney responded lightheartedly when Trump called him a “world-class leader” who “could represent me anytime,” telling reporters, “Write that down.”
Observers say the shift in tone could signal an improvement in relations between Ottawa and Washington, although no policy changes were announced.
Kelly Ann Shaw, a former trade adviser in Trump’s first administration, said it was “as positive a tone as I’ve ever seen him take with a Canadian leader.”
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, said Trump “appeared to be elevating the status of Canada as a competitor.”
After the meeting, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said both leaders directed cabinet members to “quickly land deals” on steel, aluminum and energy.
Whether Trump’s new tone leads to real progress remains to be seen.
