U.S. President Donald Trump has largely put to relaxation the thought of Canada turning into the 51st U.S. state, the nation’s ambassador to Canada says.
The assembly between Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney on the White Home earlier this week offered a possibility to place the problem “behind us,” U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra informed the Nationwide Put up.
Trump has repeatedly made feedback in latest months saying Canada can be higher off as a part of america. Hoekstra, who was within the room for the primary face-to-face assembly between Trump and Carney, stated the president is transferring previous such feedback.
“It’s done,” the ambassador stated. “From my standpoint, from the president’s standpoint, 51st state’s not coming back. The president may bring it up every once in a while, but he recognizes it’s not going to happen unless the prime minister engages with the president.”
Trump informed reporters throughout his Oval Workplace assembly with Carney that discussions relating to Canada’s sovereignty weren’t a part of the agenda, however the president nonetheless reiterated his want for Canada to affix america when the subject was introduced up by reporters current within the room.
Trump repeated his earlier feedback in regards to the “artificially drawn line” separating the 2 international locations. “It would really be a wonderful marriage,” stated Trump of a merger.
Carney then talked about Trump’s background as an actual property developer, saying, in a reference to Canada, that not all actual property is “for sale.”
“It’s not for sale. Won’t be for sale, ever,” Carney stated, to which Trump later remarked, “Never say never.”
Following the discussions between the 2 leaders, which included a personal working lunch attended by senior officers from each administrations, Carney was requested by reporters if he had urged the president to chorus from making remarks about Canada’s sovereignty.
After Carney confirmed he had, he was requested how Trump had responded to the request.
“Well, look, I don’t know. He’s the president, he’s his own person,” Carney stated.
Regardless of the president’s 51st state remarks throughout the assembly, Hoekstra stated he believes the matter has been resolved.
“The president clearly acknowledged it takes two to tango,” he stated. “That’s behind us. It was never a barrier to discussing these other issues. Now begins the framework.”
Canada and US ‘Great Friends’
Hoekstra is new to his function as ambassador to Canada. He was sworn in on April 15 in Washington and acquired his official credentials from Governor Common Mary Simon on April 29. Hoekstra served because the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands throughout the first Trump administration and was chair of the Michigan Republican Get together throughout the 2024 U.S. election.
Hoekstra, a former Michigan congressman, burdened the friendship between the 2 international locations throughout the interview, saying america has at all times seen Canada as a buddy and ally.
“We are great friends. We have been great friends for such a long period of time. You’re not going to change those personal relationships. You’re not going to change those economic relationships, national security related. They were never in jeopardy,” he stated.
“Is it a little bit of: ‘OK, let’s get over what’s happened in the last 90 days?’ Yeah, we did that. But the relationship, from my perspective, and I think from the president’s perspective, was never in jeopardy.”
U.S. tariffs on Canadian metal and aluminum, together with items and auto components not compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada settlement, proceed to be enforced. Hoekstra acknowledged there are ongoing challenges within the financial relationship between the 2 international locations that should be sorted out, however stated Trump isn’t particularly focusing on Canada.
He described Trump’s technique as one which honours the marketing campaign commitments made throughout his re-election final November to make sure america isn’t being taken benefit of in its commerce relationships, noting that he has adopted a worldwide perspective on his dealing with of the matter.
“When you take a global approach, yes, Canada falls within that,” Hoekstra stated “Some folks have not liked that approach, but it is what the president campaigned on, and he’s doing exactly what he said he was going to do.”
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
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