President Trump on Wednesday unleashed shots at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing his country of freeloading off the U.S. and being ungrateful.
During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr. Trump talked about his planned Golden Dome defense system that’s expected to protect the U.S. from a missile attack. The president noted that Canada would also be defended by the system.
“Canada gets a lot of freebies from us,” Mr. Trump said. “By the way, they should be grateful also, but they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us.”
He added, “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Mr. Trump has repeatedly talked about making Canada the 51st state as a way to expand U.S. territory. In recent days, he’s been ramping up his focus on the country. Although Mr. Trump has ruled out using U.S. troops to annex Canada, he has threatened to use “economic force.”
On Monday, Mr. Carney delivered a stark speech in Davos decrying a world order in which powerful nations abandon diplomatic traditions in favor of their own interests. His remarks were a clear reference to Mr. Trump and the U.S., though he never mentioned either by name.
He described this era as a “rupture” and urged other leaders to stand up against it.
“Every day we’re reminded that we live in an era of great-power rivalry,” Mr. Carney said. “That rules-based order is fading. That the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”
He continued, “The middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
