Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday he will be traveling to the U.S. to visit President Donald Trump at the White House.
The upcoming meeting on Tuesday comes in the wake of the continuing trade war between the U.S. and Canada, something Carney said won’t be an easy discussion.
“We are meeting as heads of our government,” Carney said. “I am not pretending those discussions will be easy.”
Carney made his first comments since his recent election victory after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he was leaving after a decade as Canada’s leader.
Carney also mentioned that on May 27, when Parliament reconvenes, King Charles III will deliver a speech detailing the Canadian government’s priorities. As Canada’s head of state, Charles holds a ceremonial role in a country that is part of the British Commonwealth, a group of former colonies.
“That clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country,” Carney said. “On Tuesday, I had a very constructive call with President Trump, and we agreed to meet next Tuesday in Washington. My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada.”
Previously, Carney said the friendship between Canada and the U.S. has ended and mutual respect and trust is over.
Robert Bothwell, a University of Toronto professor of Canadian history Robert Bothwell advised Carney not to go to the U.S. to visit Trump.
“There is absolutely no reason to. You can’t bargain with Trump. His word is not his bond. It’s like writing on the water of a pond, a scummy pond. We have nothing to gain,” Bothwell said.
Carney’s new cabinet is due to be sworn in on May 12, and he has also outlined the priorities of his new government.
“Now the election is over, and we are in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. It’s time to come together, to put on our Team Canada sweaters, and win big,” Carney said. “Now is the time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming, positive force of a united Canada.”
He stated that he would promptly call for an election in a specific district if the opposition Conservatives wished for Pierre Poilievre, who lost his seat in the election, to compete in a by-election to secure a position in the House of Commons.
“No games, nothing like that,” Carney said.
