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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed back firmly against remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying Canada’s strength comes from its own values and choices, not from dependence on the United States. Speaking shortly after returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Carney said Canada “thrives because we are Canadian,” responding directly to Trump’s claim that “Canada lives because of the United States.”
Carney’s comments came after a widely discussed speech he delivered in Davos, where he criticized powerful nations for using pressure and intimidation against smaller countries. While he did not name Trump during the speech, his message was widely seen as a warning against growing authoritarianism and coercive diplomacy. Trump later reacted publicly, referencing Carney by name and accusing him of being ungrateful toward the United States.
In response, Carney acknowledged the deep and long-standing partnership between Canada and the U.S., particularly in trade, security, and cultural exchange. However, he made it clear that cooperation does not mean submission. He stressed that Canada controls its own future and decisions, saying the country is “master in its own home” and responsible for shaping its path forward.
The exchange escalated when Trump announced on social media that he was withdrawing an invitation for Carney to join what he called a “Board of Peace,” a new initiative Trump claims will bring together global leaders. Carney was not present when the board was launched, having left Davos early to focus on international efforts aimed at maintaining a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Trump has repeatedly made controversial remarks about Canada in recent weeks, including suggestions that the country should become the 51st U.S. state. He also shared a digitally altered map portraying Canada and several other countries as part of U.S. territory. Trump accused Canada of benefiting unfairly from its relationship with the U.S. and said it should show more appreciation, especially as discussions continue around participation in a proposed missile defense system known as the “Golden Dome.”
Back in Canada, Carney used a speech at a cabinet retreat in Quebec City to reinforce his broader message. He said protecting Canadian sovereignty depends on staying true to national values such as democracy, inclusion, and fairness. According to Carney, the world is facing a dangerous rise in populism, exclusion, and ethnic nationalism, and Canada has a responsibility to show that another path is possible.
He described Canada as a living example of how diversity can be a strength rather than a weakness. Carney said millions of people around the world aspire to the kind of society Canada has built—one where opportunity is not limited by wealth, background, religion, or ethnicity. He emphasized that Canada’s democracy works to protect ordinary people and ensure shared prosperity.
Carney’s Davos speech drew criticism from some U.S. officials. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed Carney’s remarks, arguing that Canada already benefits greatly from its trade relationship with the United States. While Canada has avoided the harshest effects of Trump-era tariffs due to protections under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, the deal is set for a mandatory review later this year, raising uncertainty about future trade relations.
Despite the criticism, Carney’s stance has earned praise from several American political figures. California Governor Gavin Newsom said Carney showed courage by speaking out and warned that democratic values are under threat, even in the United States. Newsom also criticized Trump’s foreign policy, pointing to Canada’s recent economic deals with overseas partners as evidence of how strained alliances can push countries to look elsewhere.
As tensions continue, Carney has positioned Canada as a steady voice for democracy, cooperation, and fairness in an increasingly divided global landscape, insisting that the country’s strength lies in its values and its people, not in pressure from abroad.