Canadian PM Mark Carney says King Charles will go to Canada later this month. He also says he’ll visit Donald Trump in Washington next week. Listen to the latest episode of the Trump 100 podcast while you scroll.
Friday 2 May 2025 17:45, UK
Aside from his big announcements about an upcoming meeting with Donald Trump and King Charles’s visit later in the month, Canadian PM Mark Carney also addressed a number of domestic issues in his news conference this afternoon.
He described Canada as a confident nation that practices free speech and respects the law, adding the country „has what everyone wants“.
Here’s a summary of those points:
One comment Donald Trump has been repeating over recent months is that Canada should be the 51st state of the US.
He even referred to the country’s former prime minister Justin Trudeau as „governor Trudeau“.
So, did Trump continue that rhetoric when he held a phone call with Mark Carney?
„He did not,“ Carney said at his news conference earlier.
Carney was also asked whether he had seen signs of respect from the Trump administration towards Canada.
„It’s always important to distinguish want from reality,“ he said, adding that Canada becoming a US state will „never ever happen“.
Watch Trump speaking in February on why he wants Canada to be America’s 51st state:
As Mark Carney’s news conference wraps up, he’s given an insight into what he could be discussing with Donald Trump in Washington next Tuesday.
He points to fentanyl tariffs and states they were „not merited to begin with“, given Canada’s progress on the issue.
„There are examples where, certainly from our perspective, the fentanyl tariffs were not merited to begin with, but are even less merited given all the steps that the government of Canada has taken and the progress has been made,“ he says.
„But you know, this will be a broader discussion, and it’s one of the cards that they have. And therefore we will see how it plays out.“
For context: The Trump administration justified its tariffs on Canada by saying they were to stop the spread and manufacturing of the opioid fentanyl, as well as pressuring America’s neighbours to limit illegal immigration to the US.
Carney’s predecessor as Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, entered negotiations with Trump earlier this year to try to avoid the tariffs.
As part of that, Canada pledged a £1bn border plan – including 10,000 workers, drones, helicopters, a joint taskforce with the US and more – in order to halt the flow of fentanyl and illegal migration.
But Trump’s tariffs have continued.
He has imposed a 25% tariff on various Canadian goods, along 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium.
Trump did exempt some products under the US-Canada-Mexico trade deal, USMCA.
Canada has hit back with £32bn worth of tariffs on American goods.
Mark Carney is asked about King Charles’s visit to Canada later this month, which he announced in this news conference (see 16.11 post).
„He will open parliament with the speech from the throne,“ Carney explains.
„That clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country.“
Earlier in the news conference, Carney said parliament will be recalled on 26 May before King Charles’s speech on 27 May.
He also said the Queen will join the visit.
Those details have now been confirmed in a statement from Buckingham Palace (see 16.13 post).
Mark Carney is asked a question on what he hopes to get out of his meeting with Donald Trump next week.
He says there are „two sets of issues“ he wants to discuss.
„There are the immediate tariffs… and then there is the broader relationship,“ he says.
„It’s important to get engaged immediately, which has always been my intention and has always been his intention.“
When asked about how he’ll try to avoid an Oval Office row similar to what Volodymyr Zelenskyy experienced, Carney says „I go there with the expectation of difficult but constructive discussions“.
„That’s the spirit of the conversations that the president and I had, you go to these meetings well prepared, understanding the objectives of your counterpart and always acting in the best interest of Canada and we’ll go from there.“
Watch below: Body language explained during Zelenskyy-Trump Oval Office showdown.
Turning back to the relationship between Canada and the US, Carney says „our old relationship based on steadily increasing integration is over“.
He says the question is now about how the two nations will cooperate in the future.
Carney says he has had a „very constructive call“ with Donald Trump and confirmed that they agreed to meet next Tuesday in Washington – something we told you about in our 15.50 post.
„Our focus will be on both immediate trade pressures and the broader future economic and security relationship between our two sovereign nations,“ he adds.
„My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada. We will take all the time necessary, but not more, in order to do so.“
The King and Queen have confirmed their visit to Canada.
Here’s a statement from Buckingham Palace that’s just been released:
The King and Queen will visit Canada from Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th May.
The King, accompanied by The Queen, will attend The State Opening of the Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa.
Carney has started to set out some key events happening in his government over the next few weeks.
He says the new cabinet will be sworn in on 12 May, and parliament will be recalled on 26 May.
Carney also reveals King Charles will be delivering a speech from the throne on 27 May.
He says the Queen will also join the visit, and describes it as an „historic honour which matches the weight of our times“.
Mark Carney has taken his seat as his first news conference since his election win gets under way.
It didn’t take long for Donald Trump’s name to be mentioned…
„On Monday, Canadians elected a new government to stand up to President Trump and to build a strong economy,“ he says.
„Canadians also sent a clear message that their cost of living must come down and their communities need to be safe.
„As prime minister, I’ve heard these messages loud and clear, and I will act on them with focus and determination.“
Mark Carney’s news conference is starting now in Ottawa.
Watch live via the feed at the top of this page.
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