Carney tells Trump administration to stop memes and 'throwing shade' in trade dispute
Quick Look
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged the Trump administration to stop memes, throwing shade, and acting tough, saying trade talks could resume if the US became serious.
- He accused Washington of pursuing terms that could gradually wind down and wipe out Canadian industries, following renewed attacks including Trump's proposal to rename Lake Ontario and mocking of Canadian cadets.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Trade talks between the US and Canada collapsed on August 21, after which Washington increased pressure through social media taunts and symbolic actions like proposing to rename Lake Ontario.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the Trump administration on Tuesday to “stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough”, as he pushed back against a fresh wave of attacks from Washington.
Carney said US-Canada trade talks could resume if Washington became serious about negotiations, but he also accused the US of pursuing terms that he said could leave Canadian industries “gradually wound down in Canada and wiped out”.
“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,” Carney said.
“It’s not constructive, but that’s their democracy.”
His comments came after a new barrage from Washington since trade talks collapsed August 21, including Trump’s move to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” and social media posts taunting Canada.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said Canada could not go “tit-for-tat” with a US economy 13 times larger, while US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth mocked female Canadian cadets online.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
US-Canada trade talks will resume if the Trump administration ceases symbolic provocations and engages seriously
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the US agree to resume serious trade negotiations?
- What specific terms is the US seeking that Carney claims would harm Canadian industries?
- How will the renaming of Lake Ontario be received domestically and internationally?
