WARMINGTON: Despite 'elbows up' threat, Trump says Carney keen on striking deal

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So it’s no longer “elbows up” and insults between the United States and Canada anymore?

In fact, U.S. President Trump said prime minister Mark Carney had already called him and was ready to make a deal the day after he was elected.

“I think we’re going to have a great relationship,” Trump told reporters when asked about Monday’s election. “He called me up yesterday and said, ‘Let’s make a deal.'”

That’s certainly a contrast to what Carney said in his acceptance speech late Monday and what Trump posted to social media as well. Was it all for show for both?

Just like that, the president has a new G word to describe the prime minister-elect. It did not go unnoticed Wednesday that Trump did not refer to Carney as Canada’s “governor,” which he did repeatedly with predecessor Justin Trudeau.

Nor did he refer to Canada as America’s soon-to-be “51st state,” which he did on election day and many other times before that.

In fact, the president had different words to describe Carney: “A very nice gentleman” who “couldn’t have been nicer.”

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Could this be a sign that things are off to a better start for Carney than what Trudeau experienced when Trump started floating the 25% tariff idea on Canadian goods? Or just more political strategy?

It’s certainly a major change in tone from Monday, when Trump went to Truth Social to tell Canadians to vote for him and embrace joining the U.S.

A truce in the tariff war? Smoke and mirrors? With this unpredictable president, no one is ever sure. After all, Trump teased to media that it was the “one that hated Trump, I think, the least that won. I actually think the Conservative hated me much more than the so-called Liberal.”

Needless to say, many are skeptical and cynical.

“Apparently, ‘he wants to break us’ … was, incredibly, just an election slogan to convince Canadians Carney would ‘stand up’ to Trump. Who knew?” defeated Ajax Conservative candidate Greg Brady posted to X.

Conservative MP Michael Barrett added “so much for elbows up. But not surprising Donald Trump praises Mark Carney. After all, Carney sold out our jobs to Trump and he’ll do it again. Only Pierre Poilievre and Conservatives will be unflinching in fighting for our workers, unleashing our economy and protecting Canada.”

But in an interview with the BBC, Carney, a former Bank of England and Bank of Canada governor, said “there is a partnership to be had, an economic and security partnership,” with the U.S. and it’s “going to be a very different one than we’ve had in the past.” While Carney said a “win-win” scenario is possible, it will be on our terms, “not theirs,” as they seek to have more interprovincial trade and explore partnerships in Europe and the rest of the world.

Not only was there no talk from the president about Canada becoming America’s “cherished” 51st state or disrespecting our prime minister, but there was also no rhetoric from Carney saying Trump is “trying to break us so the United States can own us” or that the previous relationship between the countries is over.

It seemed cordial.

Carney has not confirmed that he told Trump “let’s make a deal” or that he was the one who called the White House. But the Prime Minister’s Office said on Carney’s X account Tuesday that the prime minister-elect “spoke with” Trump.

While it did not offer many details, the social media post added that “Trump congratulated Prime Minister Carney on his recent election. The leaders agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together — as independent, sovereign nations — for their mutual betterment. To that end, the leaders agreed to meet in person in the near future.”

Trump told reporters “he’s going to come to the White House very shortly.” Carney told the BBC that while a visit is possible, he’s going there to have “serious” discussions.

Whenever it happens, people will be keeping an eye on how the interaction goes.

Will Carney be tough on Trump, as he has indicated? Is he ready to negotiate an agreement, as the president said? Another aspect of Tuesday’s call is the PMO did not indicate if Trump again threatened Canadian sovereignty, which was discovered after their previous call and for which Carney was heavily criticized for not disclosing that detail to the public.

The PMO had not responded to requests for a comment from the Toronto Sun. But there’s no question that Trump appears to be striking a different approach to Canada than he has in the past.

If it’s true that he offered to make a deal, Carney has lowered the temperature, too.