Davos: U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a sharp verbal attack against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney following the latter’s address at the World Economic Forum (WEF). Speaking in Davos on Wednesday, Trump asserted that Canada’s continued existence depends entirely on the United States and warned Carney to remember this fact before making future public statements.
“I watched your Prime Minister yesterday; he wasn’t so grateful,” Trump remarked during his speech. He further claimed that Canada receives numerous “freebies” from the U.S., particularly regarding military protection, and suggested that the Canadian leadership should show more appreciation. “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” Trump added.
The Source of the Friction
The confrontation stems from Mark Carney’s keynote address on Tuesday, where he described a “rupture” in the global rules-based order. Carney warned that great powers are increasingly using economic integration as a “weapon” and “coercion.” While Carney did not mention Trump by name, his critique of “American hegemony” and the “fiction” of international rules was widely interpreted as a direct challenge to the U.S. President’s “America First” policies and his recent territorial ambitions.
Greenland and Strategic Tensions
The diplomatic rift has been further widened by Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark. The U.S. President recently threatened a 10% import tariff—rising to 25% by June—on eight European nations that oppose the sale. Canada has firmly aligned itself with Europe and Denmark on this issue, with Carney explicitly stating that Canada stands by Greenland’s right to determine its own future.
Trump countered by stating his “Golden Dome” missile defense system would naturally protect Canada due to its geography, yet he feels the Canadian government is ungrateful for such U.S.-led security initiatives. This latest exchange has fueled concerns about a deepening divide in the historic U.S.-Canada relationship, especially as Trump continues to float the controversial idea of “annexing” Canada as the 51st state.
