Mark Carney said he expects US President Donald Trump to seek major concessions from Canada during negotiations and emphasized that Trump’s remarks — including comments about annexing Canada — must be taken seriously.
“Take what the president says literally. I take it literally. I always have,” Carney told reporters, saying Trump’s rhetoric has driven Canada’s defensive actions, including retaliatory tariffs on US goods.
In an interview with Time, Trump again floated the idea of annexing Canada and claimed — without evidence — that the US spends “hundreds of billions” each year to support it. A large majority of Canadians oppose any move to join the United States.
Carney noted that Canada’s economy remains highly vulnerable, with 75% of exports — including nearly all oil and gas — going to the US.
He spent the final weekend of the campaign in Ontario, a key battleground ahead of Monday’s election. A Leger Marketing poll shows his Liberal Party leading nationally with 43% support, compared to 39% for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, and a 10-point personal lead for Carney as preferred prime minister.
The Liberals are well ahead in Quebec and narrowly ahead in Ontario, while Conservatives dominate much of western Canada. Together, Quebec and Ontario hold most of the seats in the House of Commons.
Carney has built his campaign around the need for Canada to diversify trade and strengthen global alliances. “America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us,” he said at a rally on Saturday.
Tensions remain elevated, with Trump accusing Canada of unfair trade practices in banking, dairy, and vehicle exports — the latter exceeding one million cars and trucks a year.
Despite the rhetoric, Carney said he does not believe Trump would resort to military action. The two have spoken by phone but have not met in person since Carney replaced Justin Trudeau last month.
