US President Donald Trump on Tuesday met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the White House as the two neighbours try to iron out their differences that have strained the bilateral ties. Trump said there's “mutual love” but “natural conflict” between the United States and Canada as he sat down with Carney in the Oval Office. Trump's obsession with annexing Canada He also joked about Canada joining the US. Carney started to say, "and the most important thing." Trump interjected and said, "the merger of Canada and the United States," which prompted laughter in the room. "That wasn't where I was going," Carney responded. US President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Ever since his 2024 US Presidential election win, Trump has repeated the idea of Canada merging with the US to become its 51st state, several times, much to the annoyance of Canadian leaders. Trump had also referred to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Governor Trudeau several times. Canadian leaders, including Trudeau and his successor Carney, have made it clear that their country has no plans to merge with the US, but it has not stopped Trump from bringing up the topic at every given opportunity. Trump willing to revisit free trade agreement During their meeting on Tuesday, Trump said he was willing to revisit the free trade agreement, which was enacted during his first term, or seek “different deals.” “We could renegotiate it, and that would be good, or we can just do different deals,” he said. “We’re allowed to do different deals.” President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in the Oval Office of the White House, as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, look on. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is critical to Canada's economy and is up for review next year. Relations between the US and Canada had hit an all-time low earlier this year after Trump imposed trade tariffs on Ottawa. 'We have conflict and mutual love' Trump described Carney as a “world-class leader” and said he's a tough negotiator. “We want Canada to do great,” Trump said. “But you know, there's a point at which we also want the same business.” Asked why the US and Canada have failed to reach a deal on trade, Trump said it's a complicated situation. “We have natural conflict," he said. “We also have mutual love.” Carney pointed out that Canada is the United States’ second-largest trading partner and is also a major foreign investor. He said the relationship between the US and Canada are “maybe not so much conflict” but that they “compete.” “There are areas where we compete, and it’s in those areas where we have to come to an agreement that works. But there are more areas where we are stronger together, and that’s what we’re focused on,” Carney said.
