Senior Trump Official Credits President for ‘New Relationship' With Canada
White House official Stephen Miller says U.S. President Donald Trump has helped to secure a new trade and defence relationship with Canada, following the first meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
'President Trump has opened up a completely new relationship with Canada because of his strength and because of his diplomacy,' Miller said during an interview with Fox News on May 7.
Miller serves as United States homeland security advisor and White House deputy chief of staff for policy.
Miller said Canada is 'finally' discussing increasing military spending to meet the NATO requirement of 2 percent of GDP on defence, 'so they're not a free rider with the United States anymore.'
He also highlighted that Carney 'acknowledged the need to strike a fairer trade deal with the United States' and that Ottawa is taking additional steps to secure the Canada-U.S. border and reduce illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
'It's just one concrete win after another because of President Trump's leadership on this issue,' Miller said, 'We want friendship with Canada, but we also insist upon and demand fairness from Canada.'
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Carney met with Trump in the White House on May 6 to discuss ending the trade dispute between the two countries.
Canada introduced retaliatory measures after Trump imposed various sets of tariffs on Canada.
Following the meeting, Carney told reporters the event marked the 'end of the beginning of a process of the United States and Canada redefining that relationship of working together.' Carney said there would be more meetings held in the coming weeks, but could not say when the tariffs might be taken off of Canada.
During the White House meeting, Carney said Trump had 'revitalized international security' and encouraged more NATO members to meet their spending requirement. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said back in
NATO's defence spending target of 2 percent of GDP by 2032, while
Carney's government has said it will exceed the 2 percent goal by 2030.
Trump acknowledged in the meeting that Canada has been 'stepping up the military participation.' The U.S. president has been highly critical of countries, including Canada, that do not meet the NATO requirement, at times calling them 'delinquent' and questioning whether the United States should protect them from adversaries.
Carney also said during the meeting that Canada is focused on securing its borders and stopping fentanyl deaths and illegal immigration. Ottawa announced a $1.5 billion spending package for border security in late 2024, and has seen a reduction in illegal border crossings in the months since.
The 25 percent tariffs that the United States placed on Canada in March were related to fentanyl and illegal immigration at the Canada-U.S. border, which has resulted in Ottawa attempting to strengthen border measures and highlight its successes to Washington.
U.S. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett
that Canada was not doing enough to tackle fentanyl labs in the country, and reiterated that the 25 percent tariffs are part of a 'drug war,' and not a 'trade war.'
Meanwhile, Trump has said the
'We put tariffs on cars from Canada, and at a certain point it won't make economic sense for Canada to build those cars,' Trump said in the White House on May 7. 'We really don't want Canadian steel, and we don't want Canadian aluminum and various other things, because we want to be able to do it ourselves.'
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Newsweek
32 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Ted Cruz Urges Trump and Musk to 'Kiss and Make Up'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, is calling for President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to "kiss and make up" as their public feud over Trump's signature legislation continues to escalate. Newsweek has reached out to the White House and Musk via email on Saturday for comment. Why It Matters Musk and Trump initiated a war of words this week after the tech mogul started attacking the House-approved spending bill, which the president has nicknamed the "One Big Beautiful Bill," that will help him launch a wider effort to implement some of his broader economic and social reforms. 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He warned that "every enemy of America, every Marxist, every person who hates our country, every person who hates freedom, is cheering for this divide to be real, to be deep, to be lasting, to be permanent." The senator added: "Everyone who loves our country is cheering for Elon and President Trump to kiss and make up." The lawmaker expressed hope the relationship could be repaired quickly, saying: "I hope it goes back to zero just as quickly" and comparing the situation to "the kids of a bitter divorce where you're just saying, 'I really wish mommy and daddy would stop screaming.'" Amid their fiery dispute on Thursday, Trump warned that the "easiest way" to save billions in the budget was to "terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts." Musk responded by saying SpaceX, which he is the CEO of, will "begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately," although he has since walked that threat back. Cooler heads prevailed Friday, with Musk and Trump refraining from slinging direct insults at each other. However, when asked by a reporter on Air Force One if he planned to follow through on his threat to cut Musk's government subsidies, Trump did not rule it out. "We'll take a look at everything," he said. "It's a lot of money. It's a lot of subsidy. So, we'll take a look at that, only if it's fair for him and for the it has to be fair." Elon Musk speaks with then-President-elect Donald Trump and guests including Donald Trump Jr., Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, at a viewing of the launch of the sixth... Elon Musk speaks with then-President-elect Donald Trump and guests including Donald Trump Jr., Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. MoreWhat People Are Saying Elon Musk wrote on X on Thursday: "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate." President Donald Trump on Thursday: "Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore. I was surprised. You were here. Everybody in this room practically was here as we had a wonderful send-off. He said wonderful things about me. You couldn't have nicer-said the best things. He's worn the hat. Trump was right about everything, and I am right about the 'Great Big Beautiful Bill.'" Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, wrote earlier this month on X: "I do support President Trump, and I support most of the bill. I'm his biggest defender on foreign policy. But at the same time, I want conservative government, so I have to fight for what I believe in." Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, to Fox News' Sean Hannity on Thursday: "I think it's incredibly unfortunate. You and I are both good friends with President Trump and we're both good friends with Elon Musk. They're both extraordinary men, and they've both done extraordinary things for our country." He added: "Elon is an incredible inventor and business leader. His buying Twitter was massively important, his leadership of DOGE for President Trump was massively important. President Trump is doing phenomenal work every single day. His victory pulled this country back from the abyss. I'll tell you Sean, I was in the Oval Office with the president when this back-and-forth began, and it's really unfortunate. They are both, I think, American heroes. They are both incredibly strong leaders. And listen, it's obvious they are both pissed off right now." House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, on Friday: "Do not doubt and do not second-guess and don't ever challenge the president of the United States, Donald Trump. He is the leader of the party." What Happens Next It was not clear whether Trump and Musk would meet or call to discuss the fallout over the bill, which Trump has suggested the Senate should pass by July 4.
