Mark Carney wasted no time sending a sharp message to Washington.
Just minutes after securing the Liberal Party leadership and becoming Canada’s next prime minister, the former central bank chief delivered a blunt warning to President Donald Trump: Canada will not be intimidated.
“We can’t let him succeed — and we won’t,” Carney told a crowd of supporters in Ottawa on March 9, calling out the U.S. president for what he described as a direct attack on Canadian jobs, families, and the nation’s way of life.
This was written by Newsner.
A New Leader in the Middle of a Brewing Trade War
Carney takes office at a precarious time.
The long-standing partnership between Canada and the United States has been severely strained after Trump reignited a trade war by slapping 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum.
Things escalated quickly.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump announced an additional 25% hike, raising total tariffs to 50% — only to reverse the decision hours later after Canada pulled back on its own plan to raise electricity surcharges on U.S. states.
While the immediate crisis was temporarily defused, Carney made it clear that this conflict is far from over.
“There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy — Donald Trump,” he said during his first speech as prime minister-elect. “He’s attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses.”
“America is Not Canada”
Carney’s words were fiery and direct. “America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form,” he declared, responding to Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state to escape tariffs.
Earlier, Trump said from the Oval Office: “If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that [Canada would] become a state… But a lot of people don’t like to play the game.”
Carney didn’t hold back. “The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Think about it,” he said. “If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life.”
He even drew on a uniquely Canadian metaphor to drive the point home: “In trade, as in hockey — Canada will win.”
A Shift in Tone — and Policy
Carney, 59, is a respected economist and former head of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. But his victory marks a political shift as well: a more confrontational stance toward a U.S. administration he says can no longer be trusted.
“I know these are dark days,” he told the crowd. “Dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.”
Carney urged Canadians to stay united in the face of growing economic and political pressure. “Let us never forget the lessons,” he said. “We have to look after ourselves and we have to look out for each other. We need to pull together in the tough days ahead.”
Carney was elected in the first round of the Liberal Party leadership race, securing nearly 86% of the vote and defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
He now faces the immediate challenge of managing a volatile relationship with the United States while trying to shield Canada’s economy from further shocks.
Despite Trump’s tariff reversal, the trade dispute is far from settled.
The U.S. president has also targeted Mexico with similar measures and has repeatedly warned that more tariffs could return at any time.
