Canada is not for sale… Carney and the cleverness of confronting Trump

During the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House, Trump reiterated his controversial proposal regarding Canada's annexation to the United States, justifying it by saying that he saw Canada as a golden opportunity from a real estate developer's perspective. Trump, as usual, phrased his remarks in a sarcastic tone, combining seriousness with humor, but they conveyed messages that could not be ignored, especially when they came from the head of a country the size of the United States. What was striking about this scene was not only the content of the proposal, but also the way Carney chose to respond. Instead of reacting to or interrupting Trump, Carney preferred to listen until the end, maintaining a calm body language that expressed discomfort and rejection, without interrupting Trump's speech or showing any tension. This stance alone was a message in itself, suggesting that Canada is not even prepared to discuss such absurd proposals. Then, with a brief smile and a calm but decisive tone, Carney said:

"Canada is not for sale. Even in the world of real estate development, there are things that are not for sale... Take this place we are in now—the White House—for example."

With this double-entendre, Carney was able to put things right, using the same language as Trump—the language of the market and real estate—to put the ball back in his court and give him a lesson in sovereignty and national dignity. The response was not only clever in its content, but also perfectly timed, catching Trump off guard, who simply lowered his head and smiled, implicitly acknowledging his verbal defeat in the face of this concise and eloquent response.

This incident eloquently summarizes how calm diplomacy and statesmanship can triumph over displays of force. While Trump sought to impose a tone of dominance from his position, Carney confronted him in a manner that made everyone realize that Canada, despite its strong relations with its major neighbor, does not put its sovereignty on the negotiating table.