Carney made the remarks sitting alongside Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, their first face-to-face after Carney's comeback victory in last week's federal election in which he rode a wave of anti-Trump sentiments.

Carney’s Liberal Party defeated the country’s Conservatives, who were the early favourites to sweep to a decisive political win. Trump earlier angered Canadians, once viewed as amongst the US’ closest allies, with the imposition of tariffs and his rhetoric about annexing Canada as the Washington's 51st State.

The context for Tuesday's much-anticipated White House meeting followed comments from the two leaders, where Trump said he was prepared to subsidise the country.

“Why would we pay $200 billion a year in subsidies to Canada when they're not a state? You do that for a state, but you don't do that for somebody else's country. So, I think Canada is going to be a very serious contender to be our 51st state," Trump said.

In response, Carney highlighted his disagreement with his counterpart’s sentiments.

“It is true that (US) President (Donald) Trump has betrayed Canada. He's betrayed Canada and he has ruptured the global economy. Our old relationship with the United States is over, unfortunately. And America's leadership, America's leadership of the global economy is over. And this, this is a tragedy,” Carney said.

Fast forward to Tuesday's warm welcome at the White House, all smiles for the gathered media and immediately into what has fast become a custom since Trump's return to the White House, the two had an encounter in the Oval Office in front of the world's press. Trump welcomed the Canadian.

“It's a great honor to have Prime Minister Mark Carney with us. As you know, just a few days ago, he won a very big election in Canada. And I think I was probably the greatest thing that happened to him. But I can't take full credit. His party was losing by a lot and, he ended up winning. So I really want to congratulate him. It was probably one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics, maybe even greater than mine,” Trump said.

Carney called Trump a transformational president for his relentless focus on the economy and the American worker, arguing that he too was elected to transform Canada with a similar focus. As questions quickly turned to Trump's comments about making Canada the 51st State.

“I still believe that, but you know, it takes two to tango, right? But now I do. I mean, I believe it would be a massive tax cut for the Canadian citizens. You get free military, you get tremendous, medical care and other things. There would be a lot of advantages, but it would be a massive tax cut. And it's also a beautiful, you know, as a real estate developer, you know, I'm a real estate developer at heart. When you get rid of that artificially drawn line, somebody drew that line many years ago with like a ruler, just a straight line right across the top of the country. When you look at that beautiful formation, when it's together. I'm a very artistic person but when I looked at that beauty, I said, that's the way it was meant to be. But, you know, it, I just I do feel it's much better for Canada, but we're not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it,” Trump said.

The Canadian Prime Minister then weighed in, emphatically so.

“As you know from real estate, there are some places that, are never for sale. (It's true). We're sitting in one right now. You know, Buckingham Palace you visited as well. And, having met with, the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign, last several months it's not for sale. It won't be for sale, ever. But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together. And we have done that in the past. And part of that, as the president just said, is with respect to our own security and my government is committed for a step change in our investment in Canadian security and our partnership. And I'll say this as well, that the president has revitalised, international security, revitalised (Intergovernmental Organisation) NATO and that’s paying our full weight, in NATO,” Carney said.

Trump also indicated that there was nothing Carney could say to him in their meeting that would see US tariffs on Canada lifted.

As Carney sought to address the broader economic relationship.

“Canadians view on this and is not going to change on the 51st state. Secondly, we are the largest client of the United States in in the totality of all the goods. So we are the largest client in the United States. We have a tremendous auto sector between the two of us and the changes that have made have been helpful. You know 50% of a car that comes from Canada is American, that's not like anywhere else in the world. And to your question about is there one thing? No, this is a bigger discussion. There are much bigger forces involved. And, and this will take some time in some discussions and that's why we're here,” Carney said.

A tense relationship but a meeting that didn't go completely off the rails. There was a clear shift in tone from both leaders in their joint appearance but the public session in front of the media did not unravel as did the meeting between Trump and Ukraine's Leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy in late February. There are major sticking points between the two sides on tariffs and the future of their $750 annual trading relationship, with countries around the world watching closely for any clues that might benefit them in their future dealings with the US.

---Reuters---