Nonilex
#Canada’s Prime Minister #MarkCarney has arrived at the White House. He was greeted by #Trump.
The pair will meet in the Oval Office this afternoon, their first in-person interaction, where they will discuss #US – Canada relations. #Carney & Trump have spoken over the phone since Carney was elected as prime minister.
And the #IdiotInChief literally just posted this nonsense:
Nonilex
This is another remarkable moment in #Trump’s meetings w/foreign leaders in the Oval. Other visiting leaders have dodged questions about Trump’s controversial ideas while sitting w/him. They have instead focused on flattering Trump. Leaders have rarely rebuffed Trump to his face. And here, you have #MarkCarney clearly saying that Trump’s aspiration for taking control of #Canada is a nonstarter, “It’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale, ever.” Trump’s response was also notable, “Never say never.”
Nonilex
Prime Minister #MarkCarney said the #USMCA, the revised North American Free #Trade Agreement, will have to change. That is part of what he will discuss w/ #Trump today.
He repeated that how Trump is handling trade & #tariffs “will have to change”
Nonilex
Even as Prime Minister #MarkCarney said #Canada was not for sale, #Trump did not give up.
“Never say never,” Trump said. “I’ve had many, many things that were not doable, & they ended up being doable.”
#Carney stopped short of antagonizing Trump further. He stated his position:
“Canada is not, & never will be, for sale.
Canadians were expecting him to make that clear in the meeting today, & he did.
Nonilex
“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are not for sale,” PM #MarkCarney said, adding: “The opportunity is in the partnership.” This was crucial for Carney to say explicitly, moving away from the #Trump rhetoric about owning #Canada & directing the conversation to what he wants to talk about: doing a deal.
After Trump reiterated his interest in making Canada the 51st state, he said, “We’re not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it.”
Nonilex
PM #MarkCarney started his statement by cracking a joke about being on the edge of his seat after #Trump promised a major announcement. That was typical Carney, using quick humor to pivot into a more serious statement. He also praised Trump for his “relentless focus on the American worker.”
But #Carney’s face dropped & the mood in the room changed as Trump started talking about how #Canada should be part of the #UnitedStates.
Nonilex
#Trump said the #USMCA [#US #Mexico #Canada] #trade deal was “very effective” but called it a “transitional step.”
“I don’t know that it’s necessary anymore, but it served a very good purpose,” he said.
Trump said the #UnitedStates will stop the #bombing of the #Houthi militia in #Yemen. He said the Houthis “don’t want to fight anymore.”
“We will honor that, & we will stop the bombings,” he said.
Nonilex
In his post taking aim at #Canada, #Trump again cited a figure he framed as a “subsidy” the #UnitedStates gives its neighbor. The number he gave, $200 billion, appears to be a reference to the US’ #TradeDeficit with Canada. But that is vastly inflated: Last year, the #US had a $63.3 billion trade deficit with Canada, according to US official data. The US ran a trade #surplus with Canada if you excludes Canadian #oil exported to America.
Nonilex
#Trump repeatedly said today that companies were investing more than ever in the #UnitedStates. Actually, data showed that total construction spending on #manufacturing in the United States had fallen after hitting a peak in July & that companies were slashing their plans for capital expenditure amid the uncertainty about #tariffs. Trump said he wouldn’t change his mind on placing tariffs on #Canada as a result of today’s talks.
Nonilex
#Trump & #Canada Prime Minister #MarkCarney will have a working luncheon now. #JDVance, #Commerce Secretary #HowardLutnick & Secretary of #State #MarcoRubio will be present from the US side, as will their Canadian counterparts.
#geopolitics #diplomacy #ForeignRelations #economy #inflation #recession #idiocracy
Nonilex
Things are getting dicey now as #Trump again brought up making #Canada the #51st state.
Prime Minister #MarkCarney was VERY FIRM & VERY CLEAR it will NEVER HAPPEN.
Then Trump claimed he was approaching #Carney in a friendlier manner than other leaders. “We had another little blow up,” Trump said, referring to his meeting w/ President Volodymyr #Zelensky of #Ukraine in the Oval Office. Trump said this meeting was different & they were being “friendly.”
Nonilex
#Trump said PM #MarkCarney can't say anything during their meeting that would persuade him to drop the US #tariffs on #Canada.
"No," said Trump when asked by a reporter if there was anything the prime minister could say this afternoon to convince him to lift them.
Asked why, Trump said, "That's just the way it is."
Nonilex
#Trump again said that he would be signing trade deals with other countries in the coming weeks without naming the countries, but he insisted that the pressure was on other countries, not the United States. “They have to sign deals with us. They want a piece of our market. We don’t want a piece of their market,” he said.
Nonilex
#Trump is all over the place as usual. He has insulted #Biden, went on a long tangent about #Obama’s presidential library in Chicago, brought up California Governor #GavinNewsom repeatedly calling him “Newscum” — something he loves to do.
Trump refused to say how he knew the #Houthis were backing down. “They’ve said, ‘Please don’t bomb us anymore,’” then added that it didn’t “matter” where he heard the information but that it came from a “very good source.”
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