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DAVOS, SWITZERLAND AND OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney left the World Economic Forum in Davos without meeting President Donald Trump Wednesday as the U.S. leader warned Canada should be more “grateful” for its southern neighbour.
“Canada gets a lot of freebies from us by the way,” Trump told a WEF audience, after mentioning the U.S. plan to build a missile defence system called the Golden Dome. “They should be grateful also but they’re not.”
Trump’s remarks come one day after Carney delivered a striking speech in front of the forum, declaring the old rules-based order is dead and called on middle powers to call out bullies and hegemons, without naming specific countries.
Trump said he watched Carney’s address. “He wasn’t so grateful,” said Trump. “They should be grateful to us, Canada — but they’re not. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Carney left Davos around 2 p.m. local time, almost exactly when the U.S. president arrived to deliver an over hour-long speech at the glitzy international summit. Carney’s office confirmed that the prime minister did not meet or talk with Trump Wednesday.
Carney was not the only leader to avoid Trump at the summit. European Union President Ursula von der Leyen also delivered a speech to the WEF on Tuesday and jetted out of Davos without seeing the U.S. president.
The World Economic Forum takes place annually in Davos, attended by world leaders, to discuss global issues.
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