Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his upcoming trip to Washington to attend the FIFA World Cup draw and mentioned the possibility of meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the event. Carney, however, played down the significance of the visit following recent tensions over trade discussions that were halted after Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s anti-tariff ad campaign featuring Ronald Reagan.
Carney emphasized the importance of the draw for Canada, which is co-hosting the tournament with the U.S. and Mexico. Despite the paused negotiations between the two countries, Carney revealed that he frequently engages in conversations with Trump, although he stressed that only substantive meetings and negotiations are of significance.
During a news conference, Carney stated, “This is the kind of thing I didn’t want to get drawn into, which is every little exchange. There are substantive meetings and conversations and negotiations, and that’s not what I’m alluding to.” He also mentioned a brief conversation with Trump on Tuesday, which he deemed as not newsworthy when pressed for details by reporters.
At the G20 summit in South Africa, Carney’s response of “who cares?” to questions about his last interaction with Trump drew criticism from the Opposition Conservatives. Carney later admitted to making a “poor choice of words” and clarified that discussions with Trump would resume when necessary.
The upcoming meeting at the FIFA draw will not be the first time Carney and Trump interact since the trade talks stalled. Following the breakdown of negotiations, the two acknowledged each other at a dinner before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea, although their interaction appeared limited.
Carney’s visit to Washington for the FIFA World Cup draw is set against the backdrop of strained trade relations between Canada and the U.S. despite ongoing sporadic discussions between Carney and Trump.
