Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that “Canada is alive because of the United States.”
“Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership across economics, security and rich cultural exchange,” Carney said Thursday during a speech in Plains of Abraham, Québec, during a cabinet retreat.
“But Canada is not alive ‘because of the United States,’” he said, referring to Trump’s comment. “Canada thrives because we are Canadian. We are masters of our own home. This is our country. This is our future. The choice is ours.”
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Tensions between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump flared after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (Renaud Philippe/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
On Thursday, Trump published an open letter to Carney informing him that Canada’s invitation to join the Board of Peace – a US-led council charged with managing Gaza’s post-war future – had been withdrawn.
“Please let this letter serve to indicate that the Council of Peace withdraws its invitation to you regarding Canada’s accession to the most prestigious Council of Leaders ever assembled. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote further Truth social.
The board was inaugurated in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, although Carney said he had already left The Associated Press.
Tensions between Carney and Trump flared as world leaders met in Davos for the annual World Economic Forum. Both Trump and Carney took swipes at each other in their respective speeches.
President Donald Trump arrives for his speech during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, January 21, 2026. (Markus Schreiber/AP Photo)
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During his speech on Tuesday, Carney did not mention Trump by name, but rather said that “the rules-based order is fading,” referring to the US.
He admitted there were benefits for the US. leadership on the world stage, but portrayed the entire concept of a rules-based international order as a falsehood that is actively failing. Furthermore, in his speech, Carney urged middle powers like Canada to stand up for themselves and take the opportunity to “build a new order that embodies our values.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 20, 2026. (Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)
When he gave his speech on Wednesday, Trump did not shy away from taking aim at Carney. He said Canada “should be grateful” because the country gets “a lot of free gifts” from the U.S., though he did not say what he was referring to.
“I looked at your prime minister yesterday, he wasn’t that grateful,” Trump said. “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
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The friction between Trump and Carney underscored a growing rift between the two. In his cabinet retreat speech, Carney described it as a moment for Canada to assert its own power and build a future based on its own values.
