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National Post

Carney ‘put to bed' Trump's talk of the 51st state, former ambassador Frank McKenna says

Frank McKenna says Mark Carney has 'put to bed' Trump's 51st state talk. Article content And in doing so, the former New Brunswick premier and Canada's former ambassador to the United States says it will hopefully now allow Canada and the United States to find some level of certainty and stability in the days ahead. Article content 'I viewed the whole thing positively,' McKenna said in an interview with Brunswick News analyzing the high stakes meeting at the White House. 'Clearly, Trump was very respectful to our prime minister. Clearly, he respects our prime minister and likes him and that is really important. Article content Article content 'And the gating issue about Canada becoming part of the United States, our prime minister just put that to bed, flat out. Article content Article content 'Now, we can get down to debunking the facts that Trump is using and get the real facts on the table and talking about the mutual benefits of working together,' McKenna said. Article content 'I think that's what was being done in the room with sleeves rolled up and hopefully out of that will come a process to allow us to get back on track.' The Oval Office meeting was marked by Carney's emphatic words that Canada won't be for sale, ever. Article content They were met by Trump adding in 'never say never,' although acknowledging that 'it takes two to tango' and that it wouldn't be a topic of further discussion, if no one else wanted to bring it up. Article content Later in the day, while holding a press conference in Washington at the Canadian embassy, Carney said he asked Trump directly behind closed doors to stop calling Canada the 51st state. Article content He elaborated more in his French response, saying he told Trump that it's 'not useful' to repeat the idea. Article content Article content But Carney added that Trump is the president and that he'll say what he wants to say. Article content Speaking later in the day to reporters, Trump was asked why he doesn't call Carney 'governor,' a title he had used with Justin Trudeau. Article content 'As far as calling him Governor Carney, no I haven't done that yet and maybe I won't. I did have a lot of fun with Trudeau,' he said. 'But I think this is a big step up. It's a good step up for Canada.' Article content Trump said he watched Carney in the Canadian election debates and thought he did 'terrifically.' Article content 'I like him. He's a nice man. We get along very well. We had a great meeting today,' the president added. 'I think the relationship's going to be very strong.' Article content McKenna said that should be seen as a very positive result of a first meeting. Article content 'Both the principal actors were true to form,' McKenna said. 'Trump was bombastic, meandering, boastful, he was what we've come to see. Article content 'And Prime Minister Carney was what we see in Prime Minister Carney, respectful, diplomatic, he was firm, and he was able to, I think, stand strongly against what Trump was saying without being disrespectful, and that was a very tough balancing act.