In the Oval Office, Carney continued to commend Trump by listing several of his accomplishments, stating, ‘You are a transformative president,’ and mentioning economic changes, increased NATO defense spending, regional peace efforts, and a diminished threat from Iran. Trump jokingly interrupted with, ‘The merger of Canada and the United States,’ which elicited laughter and significant online reactions.

The exchange prompted commentary from figures such as left-wing analyst Aaron Rupar, who criticized Carney’s remarks. This visit is Carney’s second since April, with Canada yet to finalize a trade agreement with the US, unlike other allies. Trump’s trade policies remain a contentious issue in Canada.

Carney, relatively new to politics, is facing domestic criticism despite campaigning on his crisis management skills. Trump, when asked about Carney’s visit, implied it was likely related to tariffs, as many Canadian companies are relocating to the US. The US president, aged 79, has reiterated a contentious aspiration to see Canada become ‘the 51st state,’ which heightened tensions prior to Carney’s last visit.

The Canadian government’s goal for Carney’s ‘working visit’ is to mend and strengthen bilateral relations and discuss priorities for a new economic and security partnership with the US. While the United States is Canada’s largest trading partner, accounting for 75% of its exports, Canada has not yet reached a comprehensive trade deal like other allies. Canada’s economy has contracted, with a 1.5% GDP drop in the second quarter.

Trump has already slapped tariffs on Canadian lumber, aluminum, steel, and automobiles. Recently, he announced 25% tariffs on heavy trucks, set to begin November 1. At present, most trade is safeguarded by the USMCA, a trade agreement involving the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, renegotiations are on the horizon, and Trump is pushing for revisions to benefit US industries.

The Canadian premier is under major pressure at home to seal a deal. ‘Mark Carney has no choice, he must return from Washington with progress,’ said Daniel Beland, a political scientist at McGill University in Montreal, pointing to the steel and aluminum tariffs as key areas. Carney faces particular criticism for making concessions while getting little in return. At the end of June, Carney canceled a tax targeting American tech giants under pressure from Trump, who called it outrageous. He also lifted many of the tariffs imposed by the previous government.

‘If you return with excuses, broken promises and photo ops, you will have failed our workers, our businesses and our country,’ conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre wrote in an open letter to Carney on Monday. Carney faces risks, too, as he appears in the Oval Office.

The Canadian safely navigated his first appearance there six months ago, but Trump has previously savaged visiting foreign leaders in the gilded room including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. ‘These meetings can easily go off track, and everything plays out publicly,’ said Genevieve Tellier, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa.

Last week, Trump once again brought up the possibility of annexing Canada during a speech to US generals and admirals, referencing the country’s potential participation in a new ‘Golden Dome’ missile shield. ‘Canada called me a couple of weeks ago, they want to be part of it,’ Trump claimed. ‘To which I said, well, why don’t you just join our country’ and ‘become the 51st state, and you get it for free.’