BURST
While J ustin Trudeau was downgraded to “governor” status in the eyes of U.S. President Donald Trump, on Monday, he promoted Canada’s current leader, Mark Carney, to “president.”
During his 30-minute remarks following the Gaza summit in Egypt, Trump began thanking individual countries and their leaders for their participation from a seemingly alphabetical list, starting with Armenia, followed by Azerbaijan and then Canada.
“In fact, the president called and he wanted to know if it’s worthwhile. He knew exactly what it is. He knew the importance,” Trump says while looking left and right at the dozen or so leaders gathered on stage with him to find Carney, who is standing to the president’s left next to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
After the presser ended, Carney jokingly corrected Trump in a brief exchange caught by the podium’s microphone.
“So, you going back,” asks Trump in the short clip.
“Well, I’ll go back eventually. I’m glad you upgraded me to president,” Carney says with a laugh.
“Oh, did I say that?” Trump says as he gives a chuckling Carney a collegial tap on the left shoulder.
“It’s good. I started as a governor,” Carney says lightheartedly.
“At least I didn’t say governor,” Trump says at almost the same time.
There’s no evidence in public statements or social media posts that Trump has ever referred to Carney as governor, a term he applied to former prime minister Trudeau on several occasions earlier this year amid trade tensions and desires to make Canada the 51st state that arose following his November election win.
“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” Trump posted on Dec. 10 , days after an initial meeting with Trudeau in Florida.
“I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!”
Six days later, Trump called him governor in a post celebrating Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet, then did so again in a Christmas Day post promoting the 51st state notion. Another reference came in late February, after Trudeau had already announced he would step down, in a post about the upcoming G7 summit in Canada.
Carney, meanwhile, has escaped such barbs thus far.
Following their initial meeting in the wake of Carney’s election win, Trump said he liked him more than Trudeau, as reported by the Washington Post.
“As far as calling him ‘Governor Carney,’ no, I haven’t done that yet — and maybe I won’t. I did have a lot of fun with Trudeau, but I think this is a big step up. It’s a good step up for Canada,” Trump said in May when asked by reporters why he doesn’t call Carney “governor.”
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