Trump Raises '51st State' Idea as He Meets Canada's Carney Amid 25% Tariff Rift

President Donald Trump welcomed Canada’s newly elected prime minister, Mark Carney, to the White House on Tuesday for their first face-to-face talks. The visit, Carney’s maiden foreign trip since his come-from-behind election victory, came amid heightened friction after Washington imposed a 25% duty on several Canadian imports. Sitting beside Carney in the Oval Office, Trump reignited his long-running proposal for Canada to become the United States’ 51st state, remarking, “never say never” and describing such a union as a “wonderful marriage.” Carney dismissed the idea, declaring that Canada “won’t be for sale, ever,” while stressing the need to reset relations strained by the tariff dispute. A senior Canadian official characterised the working lunch that followed as “wide-ranging and constructive.” The leaders discussed the tariff regime, border security and fentanyl flows, and exchanged views on China, Russia and the war in Ukraine. Carney argued that the U.S. levies “made no sense,” whereas Trump said he looked forward to continuing the dialogue. Both sides agreed to meet again at the G7 summit Canada is hosting in Alberta on 15-17 June. Carney said the talks laid “a good basis” for future engagement, but neither government signalled an immediate breakthrough on tariffs, leaving a key point of contention unresolved.