Trump Congratulates Canada’s New Prime Minister Mark Carney Amid Trade And Political Uncertainty

Flickr user World Economic Forum, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Driving The News

U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on his recent election win. The two leaders spoke by phone and agreed to meet “in the near future”, according to Carney’s office.

Why It Matters

Carney takes office at a tense moment for Canada-U.S. relations. The countries are expected to begin talks on a new economic and security agreement, with ongoing trade disputes and sovereignty issues in the background.

The Election Outcome

Carney's Liberal Party won a minority government, with 169 seats — three short of the 172 needed for a majority in Canada’s 338-seat House of Commons.
The Conservative Party finished second with 144 seats, becoming the official opposition.
Voter turnout was 67%.
The NDP, which saw its vote share drop by 12 percentage points, is expected to play a key role in supporting Carney’s government.
Both NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost their seats. Singh has announced he will step down.

What They’re Saying

Carney’s office said the prime minister and Trump “agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together – as independent, sovereign nations – for their mutual betterment.”
Carney told the BBC he would support a trade deal with the U.S. only “on our terms,” rejecting the idea of Canada becoming America’s “51st state.”
Trump’s deputy press secretary, Anna Kelly, joked that “The election does not affect President Trump's plan to make Canada America's cherished 51st state.”
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet called for a political “truce” to allow stable U.S.-Canada negotiations. He urged Carney to avoid pressuring Quebec on divisive issues.
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said he is committed to making progress in the bilateral relationship.

What’s Next

Carney will need support from other parties — especially the NDP and Bloc Québécois — to pass legislation and avoid losing a confidence vote.
He has promised to tackle domestic challenges, including:
- Housing affordability
- Tax cuts for low- and middle-income Canadians
A key early issue in Parliament could be relief legislation for workers and industries hit by U.S. tariffs, which all major parties support.
Carney is also preparing for the G7 summit in June, which Canada is set to host in Alberta.

The Bottom Line

Mark Carney begins his term as Canadian prime minister with a fragile minority and high expectations to reset strained ties with the U.S., while navigating a divided Parliament and pressing domestic issues.