Trump: 'Never Say Never' to Canada Becoming 51st State. Canadian PM: 'Never. Never. Never.'

In an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was diplomatic toward U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to take over the United States' northern neighbor and whom Carney excoriated in his victory speech after being elected in March.

But at one point, Carney resorted to speaking to the cameras in the room to push back against the president's repeated claim that Canada could become "the 51st state."

After Carney reiterated that Canada "is not for sale," Trump told the press assembled in the room, "Never say never."

Carney responded by saying under his breath, "Never. Never. Never," to several of the reporters.

Carney later told reporters at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. that he views Trump's persistent talk about taking control of one of the United States' top allies and trade partners as "a wish," and said he has "been careful always to distinguish between wish and reality."

"We're very clear, I've been very clear publicly consistently," said Carney. "I've been clear in private. I was very clear again in the Oval Office, have been clear throughout."

"Canada is not for sale and is never going to be for sale," he added.

In his remarks in the Oval Office, the Canadian prime minister, who represents the center-left Labour Party, seemed to appeal to Trump's self-image as a successful businessman at one point, reminding him that "as you know, from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale."

He also complimented Trump, saying he has "revitalized" international security.

But in his remarks after the meeting, Carney said he had pushed Trump to stop referring to Canada as the "51st state," and regarding a trade deal, he said the president "understands that we're having a negotiation between sovereign nations and that we will only pursue and accept a deal that is in the best interest of Canada."

The Trump administration has imposed 25% tariffs on goods from Canada, with some imports exempt under a trade deal signed in 2020.

Carney reported that Trump was willing to discuss lowering the tariffs and said he planned to have further discussions with the president "in the coming weeks" about a new trade agreement.

Trump appeared to soften his stance on eliminating the border between the U.S. and Canada and taking over the country in the meeting, allowing that "it takes two to tango."

Trump spoke about what he believes would be "a massive tax cut for the Canadian citizens" as well as healthcare benefits, but suggested he won't continue pushing Canada to make a deal.

"We're not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it," he said.