Trump to Carney: 'We Don't Really Want Cars From Canada'; Carney: Canada Is 'Never for Sale.' Trump: 'Never Say Never' (May 6, 2025)

President Donald Trump welcomed Canada’s new prime minister to the Oval Office with a blunt message on trade. “But we want to make our own cars. We don’t really want cars from Canada, and we put tariffs on cars from Canada. And at a certain point, it won’t make economic sense for Canada to build those cars,” Trump said with Prime Minister Mark Carney beside him on May 6, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“In other words, they have a surplus with us, and there’s no reason for us to be subsidizing Canada. Canada is a place that will have to be able to take care of itself economically,” Trump said [1].

He kept it friendly. “This is a very friendly conversation,” he said [1].

The video above shows Trump’s meeting with Carney on May 6, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”Never Say Never”

A reporter asked whether Trump had been joking about making Canada the 51st State. “No, no. Well, I still believe that, but, you know, it takes two to tango, right?” Trump said. “I believe it would be a massive tax cut for the Canadian citizens. You get free military.” [1]

“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” Carney answered. “That’s true,” Trump said. “We’re sitting in one right now,” Carney said [1].

“Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign last several months, it’s not for sale. Won’t be for sale ever,” Carney said [1].

Carney also praised his host. “And I’ll say this as well, that the President has revitalized international security, revitalized NATO——” he said, before Trump agreed [1].

“Canada is stepping up the military participation, because—Mark knew—you know, they were low, and now they’re stepping it up, and that’s a very important thing,” Trump said [1].

“But never say never. Never say never,” Trump said. “Never. Never. Never,” Carney answered, as the room laughed [1].

”They Have to Sign Deals With Us”

Trump said he was in no rush on trade. “Because everyone says: ‘When? When? When are you going to sign deals?’ We don’t have to sign deals. We can sign 25 deals right now, Howard, if we wanted,” he said, turning to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick [1].

“We don’t have to sign deals. They have to sign deals with us. They want a piece of our market. We don’t want a piece of their market,” Trump said [1].

A reporter asked about the trade pact Trump signed in his first term. “Clarifying something you said on USMCA. Are—is the U.S. prepared to walk away from that pact?” [1]

“No, not—no, no. It’s fine. It’s there. It’s good. We use it for certain things,” Trump said. “We have—the USMCA is a good deal for everybody.” [1]

“I Used to Call Him ‘Governor Trudeau’”

He brought up Carney’s predecessor. “I will tell you that Trudeau, when I spoke to him—I used to call him ‘Governor Trudeau.’ I think that probably didn’t help his election,” Trump said, as the room laughed [1].

“I said, ‘And if the price of your cars went up, or if we put a tariff—if we put a tariff on your cars of 25 percent, what would that mean to you?’ He said, ‘That would mean the end of Canada.’ He actually said that to me,” Trump said [1].

“But why are we subsidizing Canada $200 billion a year, or whatever the number might be? It’s a very substantial number,” he said [1].

”We’re Going to Be Friends With Canada”

Trump praised Carney’s comeback win. “It was one of—probably one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics, maybe even greater than mine,” Trump said [1].

“And it’s an honor to have you at the White House, in the Oval Office. And you see the new and improved Oval Office as it becomes more and more beautiful with love. You know, we handle it with great love and 24-carat gold,” Trump said. “We’re going to also be discussing Ukraine-Russia—the war—because Mark wants it ended as quickly as I do.” [1]

“Regardless of anything, we’re going to be friends with Canada. Canada is a very special place to me,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for the Canadians. Wayne Gretzky. I mean, how good is—‘the great one.’” [1]

“We Will Stop the Bombings”

Trump also had news from the Middle East. “The Houthis have announced that they are not—or they’ve been announced to us, at least, that they don’t want to fight anymore. They just don’t want to fight. And we will honor that, and we will stop the bombings,” he said [1].

By the Numbers

25: trade deals Trump said he could sign right away [1].
$200 billion: what Trump said the U.S. subsidizes Canada each year [1].
25 percent: the car tariff Trump said he had raised with Trudeau [1].

What Happened Next

Trump ended the talks. On Oct. 23, 2025, Trump posted that “Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.” He added: “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.” [2]

“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.,” he wrote [2].

For Trump restoring the 25 percent tariff on steel, see HYGO News’ page on Feb. 10, 2025. For Trump’s Liberation Day promise, see the page on March 28, 2025.