Carney Hits Back at Trump as Relations Sour: 'Canada Doesn't Live Because of the U.S.'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a stern response after President Donald Trump told Davos attendees that “Canada lives because of the United States.” In a filmed address delivered upon his return to Quebec City on Thursday, Carney—who also attended the World Economic Forum in Switzerland—firmly stated: “Canada does not live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.”  Arguing that diversity is “a strength, not a weakness,” Carney maintained that Canada is “the greatest country in the world to be a regular person” and said you don’t need to be rich, “have a certain color,” or “worship a certain God” in order to thrive. Although he celebrated the long-standing partnership between the U.S. and Canada, Carney emphasized: “We are masters in our home, this is our own country, it’s our future, the choice is up to us.” Trump later rescinded his invitation for Canada to join his Gaza Board of Peace, which he unveiled in Davos on Thursday, after Carney had left the annual forum. “Please let this letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time,” Trump said via Truth Social. (Carney announced earlier in the week that he had received an invitation to join the Board of Peace, but did not confirm if he intended to accept.) Trump had previously lashed out at Canada during his Davos address on Wednesday, accusing the country of getting “a lot of freebies” from the U.S. and saying they should be “grateful.” “I watched your Prime Minister yesterday, he wasn’t so grateful,” Trump told the audience, referencing the speech Carney had delivered the day before. Although Carney didn’t mention Trump by name, there appeared to be pointed references to the U.S. President throughout his own poignant address. In a bold statement that prompted much discussion, Carney said the old world order is “not coming back.” Encouraging people not to “mourn” the way things used to be, he advised that “nostalgia is not a strategy.” Carney also encouraged middle powers to stand up for themselves, accusing “great powers” of using economic pressure to yield results. “More recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited,” he said. This came after Trump threatened to tariff European allies until Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the U.S.—a threat he has since walked back on. Carney campaigned against Trump’s global tariff threats last year during his country’s general election. His platform also strongly opposed Trump’s annexation threats toward Canada. Trump frequently—and publicly—expressed his desire to annex Canada and have it become the “51st state” upon returning to the White House. Both Carney and his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, stood firm that the annexation of Canada is not something they would allow to happen. During Trudeau’s tenure, Trump took to referring to him as “Governor Trudeau” rather than recognizing him as the Prime Minister of Canada. Carney and Trump have since worked on building a better working relationship, and have even shared jovial moments in front of the world press. In October, when Trump mistakenly referred to Carney as a “President,” Carney joked: “I’m glad you upgraded me to President.” To which Trump responded with: “At least I didn’t say Governor!” However, as Carney has since expressed Canada’s full support to Greenland and Denmark maintaining their “Arctic sovereignty,” and amid tense disagreements over tariff threats, the relationship between the two leaders has become strained once more.