February 2, 2026

Carney Disputes US Treasury Secretary Lies, Says ‘I Meant What I Said’ in Davos

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney plays hardball with Trump.

Hardball Canadian Style

Please note Canada’s Carney Tells Trump ‘I Meant What I Said’ in Davos

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he spoke to President Trump and told him he stands by his remarks last week issuing a call-to-arms among smaller powers against economic coercion.
“To be absolutely clear, and I said this to the president: ‘I meant what I said in Davos,’” Carney said Tuesday before a cabinet meeting. “It was a broader set of issues, and Canada was the first country to understand the change in U.S. trade policy that he initiated, and we’re responding to that.”
The Canadian leader’s remarks to reporters Tuesday were meant to rebut comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent told Fox News Monday night that he was in the Oval Office when Trump and Carney spoke by phone, and Carney “was very aggressively walking back some of the unfortunate remarks he made at Davos.”
In posts on the Truth Social platform, Trump referred to Carney as “governor,” a reminder of the president’s previous musings about using economic force to compel Canada to become the 51st state. Trump also warned that Canada “is systematically destroying itself” by deepening economic ties with China.
“The fresh round of name calling signals a clear deterioration in goodwill and an early preview of how the USMCA renewal talks may unfold,” Rosenberg said. “The message is that Ottawa should not expect a conciliatory process.”

Unfortunate Remarks?

Yes, by Trump.

In a rambling, pathetic speech, Trump alienated everyone in Europe and confused Greenland with Iceland four times.

No More Mr. Nice Guy

I am pleased to report Canada’s Carney Ditches ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ Approach to Trump

Prime Minister Mark Carney came into office almost a year ago trying to build warm relations with President Trump. Now, he is playing hardball.
By resolving a trade dispute with China and issuing a call-to-arms against economic coercion at Davos, Switzerland, the former central-banker governor known for his calculated caution is taking Canada into a high-stakes gambit that could put its economy in an even tighter squeeze, political analysts said.
He may not have a choice, the analysts said. Carney has tried to appease Trump with strengthened border security, fentanyl-trafficking deterrence, ramping up military spending and dropping a digital tax affecting U.S. tech companies. None of it has worked, and he needs leverage going into negotiations this year to redo the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free-trade agreement, or USMCA, that underpins the country’s economy.
Carney “has tried to be nice, but he hasn’t gotten too far,” said Christopher Sands, director of Canadian studies at Johns Hopkins University. “Carney is now turning up the heat to get more attention.”
Fen Hampson, an international politics professor at Ottawa’s Carleton University, said Carney has decided “it’s time to take the gloves off and play hardball.”
Hampson said the timing of Canada’s trade resolution with China “is sending a strong message to Washington. You don’t want to play ball with us. Well, guess what, the rest of the world does, and the rest of the world is our oyster.”
Beyond China, Carney has tried to create stronger ties with Europe and Persian Gulf states. In Qatar, shortly following his China breakthrough, Carney said he secured investment pledges from the Gulf state in Canadian clean-energy projects, artificial-intelligence ventures, and the defense sector. Canada has also gained access to a European Union defense fund, to reduce dependence on the U.S.

Appeasing Trump Is a Mistake

Genuinely appeasing Trump is a mistake because he always wants more and will renege on any deals he does make.

Why make deals with a liar who will not honor them?

It took a while, but Carney finally figured this out.

Some appease Trump with flattery and offers they will not try to fulfil, but eventually Trump figures that out.

If the goal is to buy time, OK flattery works, but the end game always looms.

Eventually, you have to take a stand, and Carney just did.

Carney Dares Trump, Just Do It

By noting that Bessent is a liar, Carney is in effect daring Trump to put 100 percent tariffs on Canada.

That means Carney must have a strategy in mind.

I propose halting all auto parts and oil exports to the US.

Yes, that would cause Canada a lot of pain, but also the US. It would shut down US auto manufacturing and send the price of oil higher.

US refiners need sour crude and the Canadian pipelines are in place. Venezuela is 2,000 miles and a decade away.

Is Trump in a Position to Take any Pain?

Consumer confidence is at the lowest point since 2014, the jobs picture looks bleak, support for Trump’s immigration policy is in the gutter, housing is anemic, and people are still concerned over inflation.

If Trump wants to make the US economy worse, all he has to do if go ape on tariffs again.

I believe Carney realizes this, or he would not be taunting Trump and making the Treasury Secretary look like a fool.

At this stage, taunting Trump is good. Other countries should try it.

Mark Carney Approval Rating