Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed President Donald Trump’s recent comment suggesting Canada as the 51st state as a remark from a highly active social media user. Carney mentioned that Trump’s online activity has increased recently but emphasized that they would not engage in responding to every post made by the president.
Speaking at a press conference in Montreal to announce significant federal investments in Quebec, Carney addressed the issue in light of a post by U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra. Hoekstra shared a screenshot of Trump’s social media post on Truth Social, where the president mentioned “51st state!” in response to a Bloomberg article discussing Canada’s economy entering a technical recession.
The timing of Trump’s remark coincides with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s visit to Washington, D.C., for negotiations on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement scheduled for review on July 1. LeBlanc expressed optimism about securing a renewed trilateral trade deal during his visit to Washington.
Carney refrained from commenting on whether Trump’s recent statements were affecting the negotiations, highlighting the importance of the trade and security relationship with the U.S. government. He emphasized the need to work with the current administration despite any challenges.
Last year, Hoekstra had indicated that it was time to move past Trump’s previous remarks about annexing Canada. Carney responded succinctly when asked if Hoekstra should leave Canada, stating, “No.”