Trump cuddles Carney 

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments,” William Shakespeare wrote in Sonnet 116, and he appears to have been prophetically talking about the very special relationship between President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

The first meeting between the two leaders a few months ago was friendly. But today’s press conference, before a tariff negotiation lunch, was essentially a cuddlefest. Carney called Trump a “transformative president.” Trump joked about the upcoming “US/Canada merger,” and said the two countries had “natural conflict and natural love,” like in any marriage. 

The problem, Trump said, “is that they want a car company, and we want a car company. It’s a natural business conflict… nothing wrong with it. When it comes to trade, the United States gave everything to Canada. Other Presidents didn’t see that. They were good politicians, but they weren’t business oriented. We’ve come a long way.”

Carney nodded along while Trump said open borders made America a “raging hellhole,” which affected Canada as well. Trump said that his policy of blowing Venezuelan drug boats out of the water had made Canada safer, and Carney said “yep yep.” The “Golden Dome” missile protection system also brought along a “yep,” and as for tariffs, Carney said, “there are areas where we compete, and it’s in those areas where we have to come to agreement that works. But there are more areas where we’re stronger together, and that’s what we’re focused on, and we’re going to get the right deal.”

“It’s true,” Trump said. 

The press conference included the usual Trumpian side rants. The Democrats had shut down the government. Chicago has a lot of murders and incompetent leaders. If the Democrats had won the Presidency, there’d be men playing women’s sports. They’d be taking away your children and changing their sex, and there’d be windmills everywhere. “I’m not sure we’d even have a country,” Trump said. 

But back to the matter at hand, Trump said, “I want to make the best deal with Canada and also whatever the best deal is for Canada. Other leaders have told me this, but Mark said he would too. A year ago we were a dead country, and now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world. There’s never been a country in the world that has money coming into it like this one. Maybe Canada. I do like Canada… The people of Canada, they will love us again. Most of them still do. Maybe 25 percent. I assume a lot of ‘em. I think they love us.”

Regardless of whether or not that’s true, Trump does appear to have natural love for Prime Minister Carney. “I think he’s a great Prime Minister,” Trump said. “I mean, he could represent me any time. He is very strong, he is a very good leader. He’s a nice man, but he can be nasty. Maybe as nasty as anybody. I can tell you this because I deal with a lot of leaders all over the world. He is a world-class leader. He is a man that knows what he wants. I’m not surprised he won the election. He’s a good man, he does a great job, and he’s a tough negotiator.”

So what’s the holdup? A Canadian reporter asked. If he’s such a great man, then why don’t you reach a deal? 

“Because,” Trump said, sticking the landing, “I want to be a great man too.”