Trump calls Carney ‘governor’ and threatens 100% tariffs

Political commentator Scott Reid weighs in on Trump’s response and referring to PM Carney as ‘governor.’

U.S. President Donald Trump revived one of his most pointed insults toward Canada on Saturday, calling Prime Minister Mark Carney “governor” and threatening to slam the country with a 100 per cent tariff over its growing ties with China.

Here’s how government officials reacted to Trump’s comments.

Trump brings back ‘governor’ taunt

The remark revives a familiar taunt Trump previously used against the former prime minister Justin Trudeau and comes as relations between Ottawa and Washington continue to deteriorate.

During Carney’s recent trip to Beijing last week, the two countries announced a trade deal exchanging reduced tariffs and quotas for Chinese electric vehicles in Canada for the lifting of China’s tariffs on Canadian agricultural products.

• READ MORE: Carney reaches ‘landmark’ tariff-quota deal with China on EVs, canola

Today, in a post to Truth Social, Trump accused Carney of trying to turn Canada into a “Drop off port” for Chinese exports into the United States. Currently, the U.S. has a 35 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports that do not comply with CUSMA “rules of origin” requirements and a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, among others.

“If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken,” Trump wrote.

“China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life. If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The language echoes Trump’s past habit of referring to Trudeau as “governor,” a jab widely used alongside his claims of making Canada the 51st state.

Until now, Trump had avoided using the same label for Carney.

Jermaine Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist

Sask. premier Moe says Trump tariff threat hurts free trade

Saskatchewan Premier Scot Moe says Trump’s latest threat further undermines the global trading system.

“Today’s threat of 100 per cent tariffs is a further degradation of the free and fair trade system we took for granted for decades,” Moe said in a statement.

He said Canada must remain pragmatic in its dealings with other countries, stand up for its own interests and continue diversifying its markets.

“The China-Canada trade deal does just that and is a good deal for Canada,” Moe said.

At the same time, he said Canada should continue working to preserve the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), describing it as beneficial not only for Canada, but for North America as a whole.

Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTVNews.ca National Digital Producer

Carney re-emphasizes ‘buy Canadian’ policy amid tariff threats from Trump

Prime Minister Mark Carney is re-emphasizing his government’s “buy Canadian” policy, first rolled out in December, as he urges Canadians to support domestic businesses.

“With our economy under threat from abroad, Canadians have made a choice to focus on what we can control,” Carney said in a social media post Saturday.

He said Canadians are choosing to put their “hard-earned dollars behind Canadian businesses and Canadian workers,” and argued Ottawa must also prioritize domestic suppliers and labour.

“Canada’s new government is doing the same with our new buy Canadian policy,” Carney said, describing plans to invest in housing, major infrastructure projects and new military equipment.

“We will build big — from millions of homes that will improve affordability to major projects that will transform our economy, to the new military hardware that will protect Canadians and our sovereignty,” he said.

“We can’t control what other nations do. We can be our own best customer.”

Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTVNews.ca National Digital Producer

Trade minister rejects Trump’s threat

Carney’s U.S. trade minister, Dominic LeBlanc, responded quickly saying no free trade agreement is being pursued with China.

“There is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China. What was achieved was resolution on several important tariff issues,” LeBlanc said in a statement posted on X.

LeBlanc said the government remains focused on the Canada-U.S. relationship, calling it a “remarkable partnership” in both economic and security terms.

“As the Prime Minister said this week, Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in our economy and security — and we will remain focused on ensuring the future of that relationship will benefit workers and businesses on both sides of our border,” he said.

LeBlanc added that the new government is focused on strengthening the domestic economy while expanding Canada’s global trade relationships.

Jermaine Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist

Fraser: ‘Right plan’

Justice Minister Sean Fraser told reporters on Parliament Hill that he doesn’t put “too much stock” in statements made by Trump, such as calling Carney a “governor” or referring to Canada as the “51st state.”

“He is the prime minister of Canada, a G7 economy,” Fraser said. “He is doing a bang-up job. He clearly set the course forward with the speech at Davos, and the reaction I’m hearing from my community and from people across Canada is that we’re on the right path and now we have to deliver.”

He added that Canada needs to focus on taking care of things “at home” in the face of Trump’s threat to Canada over the trade deal with China.

“The last couple of months, in particular, have demonstrated to us that the plan that we have broadcasted is the right one,” Fraser said on Saturday.

“We need to build an economy that can stand on its own two feet, making it easier to do big things at home and diversifying into new markets around the world.”

Fraser added that these were “interesting” and “challenging” times ahead for the Canadian economy with the path Carney has chosen.

“I’m excited about what the next few months are going to look like,” he said.

Fraser said he tries not to focus on social media posts, and instead focus on policies that support Canadian workers.

Aarjavee Raaj, CTVNews.ca Journalist

Miller: ‘It is what it is’

Culture Minister Marc Miller told reporters at Parliament Hill “it is what it is,” as a response to Trump’s statements from Saturday morning.

“You have to take these things seriously, but we’re not negotiating a free trade agreement with China,” Miller said. “It’s a serious statement, we take it seriously. But we have to control what we control.”

Aarjavee Raaj, CTVNews.ca Journalist

A relationship growing sour after Davos

The latest threat also comes just days after the Trump administration disinvited Canada from the Board of Peace, a U.S.-led initiative intended to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza following years of conflict in the region.

• READ MORE: Trump disinvites Canada from Board of Peace in open letter to Carney

Previously, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Carney of making “political noise” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, after the prime minister warned that the old-world order is dead and urged middle powers to band together as larger ones increasingly use economic coercion to exert pressure.

European leaders have continued to cite that speech throughout the Davos forum, repeating Carney’s warning about a fundamental rupture in long-standing trade and defence relationships.

Jermaine Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist

New ties with China

The dispute is unfolding as Canada moves to deepen its economic ties with Beijing.

Just last week, Canada and China announced a series of agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.

Canada also negotiated a deal to lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for reduced import taxes on Canadian farm products.

Jermaine Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist

China could ‘take over’ Canada, says Trump

Trump later escalated his rhetoric in a separate post, framing Canada’s relationship with Beijing as “the last thing the world needs.”

“The last thing the World needs is to have China take over Canada. It’s NOT going to happen, or even come close to happening!” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Jermaine Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist

Kinew: “Canada will never be taken over”

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew responded to Trump’s comments, rejecting both the U.S. president’s rhetoric and the idea that Canada’s sovereignty is up for debate.

“Canada will never be taken over. Not by China. Not by Trump. We will always be the TRUE NORTH strong and free,” Kinew wrote on social media.

Jermaine Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist

Eby backs Carney

British Columbia Premier David Eby also weighed in publicly, offering his support to Carney as tensions with Washington continue to rise.

“You’re on the right path, Mark. Canada must stand on our own two feet. British Columbia has your back,” Eby wrote in a post on social media.

Jermaine Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca Journalist