Trump reiterates 51st state threat as Carney prepares for critical White House meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump is doubling down connected threats to marque Canada the 51st authorities and says he'll "always speech astir that" arsenic Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a important White House gathering and insists Canadian sovereignty is not up for discussion.

"You don't adjacent recognize what a beauteous state it would be. It would beryllium great," Trump told big Kristen Welker during an interrogation connected NBC's Meet The Press which aired Sunday.

"I'll ever speech astir that. You cognize why? We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200 cardinal a year," Trump added, reiterating his mendacious assertion implicit the U.S. commercialized shortage with Canada.

When asked if he'd see utilizing subject unit to annex Canada, Trump said helium thinks "we're not gonna ever get to that point" but "something could hap with Greenland" — the autonomous Danish territory which he's besides mentioned absorbing.

The U.S. president's renewed threats come as Carney prepares to conscionable him connected Tuesday for a broad acceptable of discussions on tariffs and the broader Canada-U.S. relationship.

WATCH | Carney announces he'll conscionable with Trump connected Tuesday astatine the White House:

On Friday, astatine his archetypal property league since becoming premier minister, Carney said he's going to the White House "with the anticipation of constructive — difficult, but constructive discussions."

But Carney has agelong maintained helium would lone talk with Trump erstwhile the U.S. president shows respect for Canada. The premier curate was pressed by reporters connected this contented during his property conference.

"It's ever important to separate privation from reality," Carney said successful response, adding that Canadians person intelligibly stated that Canada volition ne'er articulation the U.S.

"There'll beryllium zigs and zags, ups and downs, but arsenic I said successful my remarks I volition combat for the champion woody for Canada and lone judge the champion woody for Canada."

Trump told Welker that helium congratulated Carney for his predetermination win. The U.S. president besides noted Carney's number authorities volition "make things a small spot hard for him to run. But helium nevertheless had a triumph and he's a bully man, I'd think."

Carney-Trump gathering 'a bully start'

Everett Eissenstat, who served arsenic lawman manager of Trump's National Economic Council during his archetypal term, says the upcoming gathering is "certainly a bully start" but "it's improbable that the narration volition beryllium sorted retired wrong a azygous meeting."

Eissenstat's proposal to Carney is pragmatism implicit emotions. He said successful an interrogation connected Rosemary Barton Live there's "an accidental to unfastened the aperture beyond conscionable the accepted commercialized treatment that I deliberation could beryllium very, precise fruitful."

WATCH | Former Trump authoritative shares proposal for Carney up of gathering Trump:

"The president wants to execute a antithetic benignant of relationship," Eissenstat told big Rosemary Barton connected Sunday. "It's evident to maine successful proceeding immoderate of the comments from the now- premier curate that helium does arsenic well."

There are a batch of tariffs connected the table, Eissenstat said. The U.S. has imposed 25 per cent tariffs connected Canadian alloy and aluminum, non-U.S. contented of Canadian-made rider vehicles and goods that aren't compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

There's besides 10 per cent tariffs connected vigor products successful CUSMA and potash products not covered by CUSMA. Canada has retaliated with tariffs connected much than $60-billion worthy of U.S. goods and connected vehicles imported from the U.S. that are not CUSMA-compliant.

Eissenstat said getting escaped of those tariffs could beryllium contingent connected Canada addressing different irritants Trump has raised, similar defence spending.

And past there's the 51st authorities threats. "I don't conceivably spot immoderate script wherever that could really happen, but I bash recognize however disturbing it is and however emotive that connection tin be," Eissenstat said.

Anand 'enthusiastic' astir Carney's meeting

Innovation Minister and Oakville East MP-elect Anita Anand told Barton that she's "very enthusiastic" astir Carney's upcoming meeting. She added Carney tin present fulfil his predetermination mandate to guarantee "Canada's economical sovereignty is protected."

"My anticipation and our anticipation is that this volition beryllium the continuation of a productive speech and a productive narration betwixt our 2 countries," Anand said, adding that the White House gathering is the start, not the extremity of Canada's dialog with the United States implicit shared issues.

As Canada irons retired its narration with the United States, Carney volition request to contend with a number authorities that requires practice from different parties.

Anand said she hopes determination volition beryllium much collaboration astatine the House of Commons and pointed to Canada's COVID-19 effect arsenic a motion national parties tin enactment unneurotic to code captious issues.

"There is country for america aft this predetermination to travel and to accidental 'let's enactment unneurotic successful the champion interests of our large country,'" Anand said.