The 'Ellbows-Up' defense from Canada PM holds Trump in chess because both parties play it cool | Donald Trump

THere were two main stresses during Donald Trump's meeting in the Oval Office with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the first benefit of a growing election phenomenon: The Anti-Trump bend. For the first time this season, Trump met with a prime minister who was chosen against him, and tried, like the two guides, the tensions cooked exactly below the surface.

Both tried to play cool.

Trump congratulated Carney on his victory. “I have a lot of respect for this man … He did a really great campaign,” said Trump, joking that he may have contributed to the historical 30% momentum in the Canadian elections. Carney, in turn, tried to provoke Trump and called him a “transforming” president. Flattering is estimated in the oval office these days.

But the first hanging, as they are so often, was the bad habit of a partner. When a reporter of Trump's comments on the language of Canada brought up to the 51st state, US President Kokyly said: “I still think that. But it takes two to tango, right?”

Carney replied how he could: “It is not for sale. It will not be for sale. Ever.” To which Trump replied: “I say: never say.”

After the talks, Carney confirmed that this was a charm. “Have you asked the president not to call Canada more than the 51st state?” Asked a reporter. “Yes. Today. Exactly what you just said,” he replied.

“I said it was not useful to repeat this idea,” said Carney later in French. “But he is the president and he will say what he wants.”

The second difference can be incompatible. When asked whether he would increase new tariffs in Canada, Trump bluntly replied: “No, that's how it is.” Carney tried to make the relationship between the two countries new and called Canada to the “largest customers” of the United States. But Trump signaled that he would take a hard border in the trade agreement with countries abroad. “You have to sign shops with us,” said Trump.

There was no quick solution. Carney gave the negotiations an interesting shoot: the beginning of the end of the “redefinition of the relationship” of the long -term partnership of the two country. It hardly looks like the “wonderful marriage”, which Trump suggested that a Canada annexation could produce. The question is whether instead it goes with an messy separation.

The leaders of the world are practiced in friendship, flattering and amusing Trump. Despite her political differences, he clearly likes Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starrer – and he loves Giorgia Meloni despite her differences in Ukraine. He regularly calls the Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum a “beautiful woman” despite his migration policy. And – in public – he had a warm meeting with Carney, even though he openly thought about the annexation of his colleague's annex.

However, there is no potential effects of the trade war that Trump has unleashed all over the world. Howard Lutnick, the Commercial Secretary, confirmed that the United States was also stipulated under its court in the Oval Office that the United States would also check the agreement on the United States Mexico-Canada (USMC), which Trump negotiated Trump himself during its first term. (“It was a transitional agreement,” said Trump.)

“We want to make our own cars,” said Trump. “We don't really want cars from Canada, and we set tariffs for cars from Canada, and at a certain point it will not make sense for Canada to build these cars. And we don't want to steel from Canada because we make our own steel.”

Carney shaped his strategy as a “elbow up”, a hockey term to offer a stiff defense. And in moments today he seemed to be recognized that he could no longer deliver ground to the US President. “Part of the way you carried out these tariffs has used the existing aspects of USMCA so that it has to change,” said Carney. Both sides predict difficult negotiations to achieve a revised trade agreement.

Trump's tariffs and strikers have an irony: the guidelines that should win him to win him can reject the same voters in the United States abroad. And in countries from Canada to Australia, voters begin to choose guides who comply with as unpredictable and sometimes insulting US leaders.

“There are some places that are never for sale,” said Carney during the meeting with Trump. “After you have met with the owners of Canada in the course of the campaign, it is not for sale. It will not be for sale. Ever.”