Trump’s Feelings for Trudeau Were Clear — Why Carney Might Get a Warmer Welcome

Just hours after Mark Carney’s Liberal Party celebrated their election win, former U.S. President Donald Trump gave his version of a congratulations: “It was the one that hated Trump the least that won.”

It’s no secret that Trump and Canada’s former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau never saw eye to eye. Their famously awkward handshake in 2017 set the tone for years of tension, filled with veiled insults and even Trump joking about turning Canada into the U.S.’s “51st state.”

But with Trudeau now out and Carney stepping in—an Ivy League-educated economist and former Bank of England governor—the tone may shift. Trump, despite his dislike for “global elites,” has a soft spot for wealth and polished résumés, both of which Carney brings.

Trump reportedly told Carney he was “nicer” than expected in their first phone call. Their face-to-face meeting at the White House is due soon, and it will test whether their contrasting styles—Trump’s unpredictability versus Carney’s calm and strategy—can lead to a smoother U.S.-Canada relationship.

Carney has made it clear he won’t be bullied. He’s openly rejected Trump’s talk of annexation and insisted Canada won’t bend to pressure over trade or sovereignty. But with the U.S. as Canada’s biggest trading partner, the stakes are high.

“We’ll partner on our terms,” Carney said. And while tensions remain—especially around trade, migration, and security—Carney may prove more capable than his predecessor at navigating Trump’s political minefield.