WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are scheduled to meet Tuesday at the White House, marking their first encounter since Carney secured reelection on a platform promising a tougher stance against U.S. tariffs and provocative rhetoric.

Carney, 60, who leads Canada’s Liberal Party, has emphasized that relations with the United States under Trump "cannot remain the same," and cautioned against expecting any immediate breakthroughs from the high-level talks.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated amid Trump’s trade war with Canada—Washington’s closest ally and largest trading partner. The U.S. president has repeatedly floated the controversial idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state.

Despite these frictions, Trump referred to Carney as a "very nice gentleman" after a phone call last week. However, speaking to reporters Monday, Trump appeared uncertain about the agenda: “He’s coming to see me. I’m not sure what he wants to see me about, but I guess he wants to make a deal. Everybody does.”

Carney is scheduled to arrive at the White House at 11:30 a.m. (1530 GMT), followed by a working lunch and a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

Under Trump, the U.S. imposed sweeping tariffs—25 percent on Canadian and Mexican goods—with additional sector-specific levies targeting autos, steel, and aluminum. While some tariffs have been suspended amid ongoing negotiations, many remain in place.

Carney has pledged to redefine Canada-U.S. relations, calling it the country’s most significant political and economic pivot since World War II.

“Our old relationship based on steadily increasing integration is over,” Carney said Friday. “The question now is how our nations will cooperate in the future.”

He added that his government would “fight to get the best deal” on trade.

But U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick struck a pessimistic note, describing a potential agreement as “really complex.”

“They have their socialist regime and it’s basically feeding off of America,” Lutnick told Fox Business. “I just don’t see how it works out perfectly.”

A Symbolic and Strategic Meeting
Trump inserted himself into the recent Canadian election with a social media post suggesting Canada could enjoy “ZERO TARIFFS” if it “becomes the cherished 51st state.”

Though Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was initially favored to win, Trump’s comments and the exit of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reshaped the race. Carney, who took over from Trudeau in March, won over voters by emphasizing his crisis management experience.

A seasoned economist, Carney previously served as governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, where he played a crucial role stabilizing market after the 2016 Brexit vote.

Known for his measured tone, Carney will be tested in navigating a high-stakes encounter with the unpredictable Trump on U.S. soil.

“This is a very important moment for him, since he insisted during the campaign that he could take on Mr. Trump,” said Genevieve Tellier, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa.

Observers have drawn parallels to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s contentious February meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, which devolved into a public reprimand.

Tellier noted that Carney may benefit from not being Trudeau, the former prime minister whom Trump often derided as the "governor" of Canada.

The meeting comes on the heels of two major victories for left-leaning leaders—Carney’s win and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s reelection—both seen as influenced, at least in part, by Trump’s aggressive trade policies. “Canada and the United States are strongest when we work together—and that work starts now,” he posted on social media.