Mark Carney says Canada will engage in trade talks 'when the Americans stop doing memes'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke out against American "memes" on Tuesday as the trade disputes between his nation and President Donald Trump wears on. "American officials have been mocking Canada's military, its cadets, renamed Lake Ontario," Carney was asked in Ottawa, "and also some officials saying the US is not actually at war with Canada. What do you make of all this and what is your message to the US right now? What needs to happen next?"

"Our message, first off, has always been, our plan has always been standing up for Canada first and foremost here at home, building Canada at home, diversifying abroad. Everyone in the world wants to do more with Canada, and we're doing that in a way that's in the best interest of Canadian workers, Canadian families, Canadian businesses. That's first," Carney said.

"We have a positive, there's a positive opportunity that has always existed with the United States for a mutually beneficial trade deal that respects Canadian sovereignty, which," he broke into French. "But it must, it must have those characteristics. And when the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions. But look, it's not constructive. But that's their democracy," Carney said before taking more questions.

Canada is set to impose retaliatory tariffs on the US to the tune of $20 billion. Carney undertook this move after refusing to continue trade negotiations. The Liberal Party, of which Carney is the head also cheered on election results that favored his party just the day before.

He said those results were a reaction to Trump. "What’s a clear message from last night in three very different ridings across this great diverse country is that Canadians are behind the plan of the government, which is first and foremost about building strong at home, diversifying with reliable partners, building Canada strong for all," he said.

Carney has said that the US and Canada are "at war," an assertion Treasury Secretary fully rejected when he was asked about it this week.

Lake America memes have abounded on social media, much to the annoyance of Canadians.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford went as far as to buy a big sign saying Lake Ontario and then posed before it.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an insult to Canadian cadets, sharing a post showing two Canadian cadets, one of them a significantly overweight woman, holding a ribbon. "This is real," Hegseth said.

Carney said Hegseth's post and others were "beneath their office" and that it was standing in the way of a resumption of trade talks.

As part of their move away from the US, Canada has been cozying up to Europe. The North American nation plans to participate in Eurovision for the first time ever, cementing their ties across the pond.