President Donald Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday for a bilateral meeting that included discussions on trade, defense cooperation, and economic policy.
The meeting drew attention not only for its substance but also for the moments of humor exchanged between the two leaders.
The two spoke with reporters in the Oval Office before their private talks began.
Prime Minister Carney opened by praising President Trump’s leadership on global issues, citing economic growth, NATO’s increased commitments, and diplomatic efforts in several regions.
“You are a transformative President, from the economy, unprecedented commitments of NATO partners… peace from India/Pakistan, through to Azerbaijan… disabling Iran, and now—” Carney began.
Before he could finish, President Trump interrupted with a grin and said, “The merger of the United States & Canada!”
The unexpected remark drew laughter from Carney and members of the White House press corps.
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“That wasn’t where I was going,” Carney replied with a smile.
Trump laughed and patted the prime minister on the back, adding, “I’m just kidding.”
😂LOL — POTUS jokes around with Carney:
Carney: “You are a transformative President, from the economy, unprecedented commitments of NATA partners…peace from India/Pakistan, through to Azerbaijan…disabling Iran, and now—”
POTUS: “The merger of the United States & Canada!” pic.twitter.com/t0G8WJx0H6
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 7, 2025
The exchange set a lighthearted tone for the press portion of the meeting. When asked by a reporter about the current status of trade negotiations between the two countries, President Trump said discussions were ongoing but complicated, particularly regarding tariffs on steel and automobiles.
“The United States was always giving everything to Canada,” Trump said, referring to what he described as one-sided trade policies in past agreements.
“It’s been to the detriment of U.S. companies.”
Despite the challenges, Trump expressed respect for his Canadian counterpart, calling Carney a “great man” and a “world-class leader.”
The president’s remarks prompted another round of laughter when a reporter followed up by asking why, if Carney was a great leader and the United States wanted a deal, the agreement hadn’t yet been finalized.
“Because I want to be a great man, too,” Trump responded, smiling as laughter filled the room.
“Thank you very much.”
President Trump draws huge laughs with his comeback to a reporter’s question:
REPORTER: “If he’s a great man and you want to do a deal with Canada, why aren’t you?”
TRUMP: “Because I want to be a great man, too.” pic.twitter.com/Mz9EcOIJoK
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 7, 2025
The two leaders also shared a brief exchange about sports, with Trump noting that while he was not traditionally a hockey fan, he had developed an appreciation for the sport.
👏 @POTUS & Carney are CRACKING reporters up!
POTUS “You know what? I’m not I’m not the biggest hockey fan, but I like it a lot. And I watched some of the greatest hockey games I’ve ever—How good were those games? Right?”
Carney: “We’re coming down for the world series!” pic.twitter.com/BLNtGLci8z
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 7, 2025
Before the formal meeting began, Carney’s arrival at the White House included another friendly moment.
Shaking hands with the president, Carney pointed out that his choice of attire was intentional.
“I wore red for you!” he told Trump, referencing the bright tie he had selected for the occasion.
“I wore red for you!” @MarkJCarney
President Trump welcomes the Prime Minister of Canada to the White House 🇺🇸🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/hj4jZVOLYZ
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) October 7, 2025
The meeting marked Carney’s first official visit to Washington as prime minister since taking office earlier this year.
The two leaders discussed ongoing trade negotiations, energy cooperation, and border security.
White House officials said the talks were productive and emphasized the strong economic ties between the United States and Canada, which remain each other’s largest trading partners.
In a statement released after the meeting, the White House said both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to “strengthening cross-border trade, ensuring fair market access, and maintaining close defense and intelligence cooperation.”
Tuesday’s Oval Office appearance showcased a working relationship that mixed policy discussions with a noticeable sense of camaraderie.
Both Trump and Carney appeared in good spirits throughout, signaling a continued effort to maintain strong bilateral ties between the two neighboring nations.
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