Trump congratulates Carney even as White House repeats ‘51st state’ taunt

Even as Mr. Trump himself congratulated the Canadian prime minister on his victory, the White House has mocked Mark Carney over Donald Trump’s desire to make Canada the 51st state in the United States by stating that a remarkable election result does not alter that plan. After a campaign that was dominated by the US president’s trade war, Mr. Carney’s Liberal Party won. However, it did not achieve an absolute majority in parliament, so Mr. Carney will need to get support from at least one minor party. During a phone call, Mr Trump congratulated Mr Carney and the pair “agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together – as independent, sovereign nations – for their mutual betterment”, according to the Canadian prime minister’s office.
The two leaders also agreed to meet in person in the near future.
Yet at the same time, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said that the election “does not affect President Trump’s plan to make Canada America’s cherished 51st state”.
In his victory speech in Ottawa, Mr Carney declared that Mr Trump “is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never happen.”