U.S. President Donald Trump accused Canada of being ungrateful during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, telling Prime Minister Mark Carney to remember that “Canada lives because of the United States.”
“Canada gets a lot of freebies from us,” Trump said. “They should be grateful, but they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday — he wasn’t so grateful. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Trump’s remarks came a day after Carney delivered a widely watched address at the World Economic Forum, in which he criticized American hegemony and warned that the U.S.-led global system is undergoing a fundamental rupture.
“Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” Carney said, arguing that Canada and other “middle powers” can no longer rely on traditional alliances for automatic security and prosperity. He urged such countries to work together, warning that “if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.”
Carney also pushed back against Trump’s tariff threats linked to Greenland, saying Canada “stands firmly with Greenland and Denmark” and supports their right to determine their own future.
During his Davos appearance, Trump reiterated support for his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system, saying it would also protect Canada. He again floated past claims about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, rhetoric he has used repeatedly since his re-election, including mocking former prime minister Justin Trudeau as the “Governor of Canada.”
Although Trump’s annexation talk has eased in recent months, he recently posted an image on social media showing Canada and Venezuela overlaid with the U.S. flag, renewing concerns in Ottawa and among allies.
Carney’s speech followed reporting by The Globe and Mail that the Canadian military has examined potential response scenarios to a U.S. invasion — a report that underscored the heightened tensions shaping discussions at Davos.