Trump says Carney, a ‘very nice gentleman,’ will visit White House soon

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whom he called a “very respected gentleman,” will visit the White House “in the next week or so.”

Trump made the comments in response to a reporter’s question about Canada-US relations, which have been strained in recent months by a protracted trade war that has affected everything from food to auto parts. Trump has also made headlines several times, including by suggesting that Canada should become a state in the US and by referring to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor.”

Managing relations with Trump has become a major issue in Canada’s federal election campaign, with leaders from all parties commenting on how to deal with Trump’s actions. Mark Carney has repeatedly promised to expand Canada’s trade with other countries to reduce its dependence on the US.

“I actually think the conservatives hate me more than the liberals seem to,” Trump said at the meeting, referring to Pierre Polliever, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Carney said before his election victory that he and Trump had agreed to continue trade talks after a new Canadian prime minister was elected. Now that Carney has won, he and Trump are expected to renegotiate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the main trade agreement between the two countries.

“He called me yesterday and said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’”

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