Trump disparages Canadian Prime Minister Carney during Oval Office meeting

Flip the Script

WASHINGTON (AP) - A meeting between the leaders of the USA and Canada usually isn't a high-stakes showdown, but tensions ran high when newly elected President Mark Carney stepped into the Oval Office for his first sit-down with President Donald Trump. Carney, after a campaign fueled by anger at Trump's aggressive rhetoric, found himself in a heated standoff with the U.S. leader who'd been wishing for years that America could annex its northern neighbor as the 51st state.

It didn't take long for a reporter to ask about what was on everyone's mind. Trump replied with a sly wink, reiterating his interest in annexing Canada and dismissing the border between the two countries as nothing more than an arbitrary line.

Carney's campaign was no joke, and now he had a chance to defend his country to Trump's face. He squared off with the American president, his demeanor fierce yet controlled.

"Some real estate is off-limits," Carney shot back. Canada was one of those, he added, and "it will never be up for grabs."

Trump crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "Never say never," he retorted.

Carney retaliated, spouting, "Never, never, never."

The interaction offered a glimpse into how Trump has transformed Oval Office meetings from mild, boring encounters into high-stakes brawls that often leave foreign leaders questioning their diplomatic strategies. His approach has been described as thrilling for supporters and unpredictable for diplomats accustomed to an old-fashioned approach to international relations.

Carney's Counterpunch

Since day one, Trump has turned the Oval Office into a stage for aggressive diplomacy. Journalists are no longer just ushered in for pictures; they're now witnesses to a political reality show, staring down the barrel of Trump's foreign policy rollercoaster. While the president can be gracious, he's not afraid to attack visitors' countries, questioning their trade policies, slamming their lack of defense spending, and accusing them of ingratitude. Trump's willingness to acknowledge and engage with reporters on a wide range of topics has left guests more than just silent spectators.

Since returning to office, Trump has welcomed 16 foreign leaders to the White House, a number that surpasses Barack Obama and Joe Biden at similar points in their presidencies.

In a statement, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly praised the atmosphere Trump has created, claiming he is "committed to transparency and accessibility," allowing Americans to see his foreign policy agenda in action in real-time.

Embracing Chaos

Trump's meetings sometimes become endurance tests as he rambles on about any number of topics, from extended diatribes about his own cognitive abilities to admiring his own renovated Oval Office furnished with "great love and 24-karat gold." These encounters can be exhausting for the foreign leaders who must navigate Trump's egotistical self-branding while trying to make headway on the issues that truly matter.

Canada's Carney, for instance, found himself in an uncomfortable position as the hours ticked by, Trump criticizing California's delayed high-speed rail project, discussing his latest cognitive test, and making a sudden announcement that the U.S. would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen.

Meanwhile, El Salvador's Nayib Bukele seemed more at ease during his own meeting with Trump. He grinned as Trump boasted about his high scores on cognitive tests, criticized reporters for low ratings, and dreamed out loud about implementing tariffs.

No Room for Stiff-Upper-Lips

Longtime journalist and fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Elise Labott, dismissed the White House's characterization of the encounters as proof of transparency. "It's just another part of the show," she said, a sentiment echoed by others familiar with international diplomacy. For these experts, the Oval Office meetings have been "hijacked for part of the circus."

Foreign leaders have learned to walk a fine line to avoid publicly confronting Trump, quickly pivoting when difficult subjects arise. For example, during a meeting with Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte ignored the president's musings about annexing Greenland (a territory of Denmark, another NATO ally), instead focusing on security in the Arctic.

Jordanian King Abdullah II, on the other hand, squirmed through a meeting with Trump when the American leader suggested the U.S. could take over Gaza and expel Palestinians from their homes – a proposal that would be disastrous for Abdullah, whose country is home to more than two million Palestinian refugees.

Trump's Wild Card

French President Emmanuel Macron was the rare leader to correct Trump without facing any negative backlash. During a discussion about Ukraine, Macron gently placed his left hand on Trump's right forearm to interject, reminding Trump that Europe was donating money, not loaning it.

The situation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, took a turn for the worse. After a heated exchange over the best way to end the war with Russia, Trump told Zelenskyy, "It's going to be very hard to do business like this."

Handle with Care

Rufus Gifford, former chief of protocol for Biden, warned against viewing Trump's ability to dominate headlines as a smart or beneficial strategy for the U.S.A. "Donald Trump has an ability to grab attention," Gifford said, "But just because he's able to get people to watch him doesn't mean the strategy is smart or good for the United States of America."

The challenge for foreign leaders is figuring out how to confront Trump while still maintaining some semblance of a working relationship with the unpredictable president. For some, avoiding confrontation altogether is the best approach. As one diplomat put it, "You can't out-Trump the Trump."

Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

Are You Curious About:

Trump's foreign policy strategies
The effects of Trump's diplomacy on international relationships
How Trump's approach differs from that of past U.S. Presidents
Strategies used by foreign leaders to navigate Trump's unpredictable nature

Enrichment Insights:

Donald Trump's unconventional approach to conducting Oval Office meetings and diplomatic interactions with foreign leaders has been marked by:

Non-traditional Diplomacy: Trump's style often focuses on building personal relationships with foreign leaders, exemplified by his contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the resulting Singapore Summit in 2018. This departure from traditional diplomatic protocol has led to both positive and negative outcomes.
Global Perception: Trump's unconventional methods have sometimes been seen as unpredictable by international partners, raising questions about U.S. foreign policy intentions.
Policy Outcomes: Some of Trump's meetings have resulted in significant policy developments, such as discussions on trade agreements and negotiations with North Korea. However, these efforts have also faced challenges and controversy, particularly regarding the Middle East peace process and interactions with Europe.
Economic Impact: Trump's economic-focused diplomacy has impacted trade agreements, tariffs, and discussions on rare earth elements.

From the Archives:

Insight into Trump's Diplomatic Approach: Trump reckons he's dealing with Kim Jong Un as a tough businessman
Examining Trump's Unconventional Diplomacy: Trump's Oval Office meets with foreign leaders: Strategy or disaster?
Trump's Impact on Global Relations: Trump's unpredictable presidency roils global alliances
Trump's Approach to North Korea: Trump's summits with Kim Jong Un: More show than substance?
Trump's Economic Diplomacy: Trump unveils 'phase one' of trade deal with China

Mark Carney, having won the presidency in Seattle on a platform critical of Trump's politics, found himself in a tense confrontation with Trump over the potential annexation of Canada.
In the Oval Office, Trump's business-oriented politics clashed with Carney's defense of the 51st state, Canada.
Tariffs, war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice were all topics that made their way into Trump's unusual meetings with global leaders, often presented in his unconventional style.
Carney, who rarely faced such heated debates, stood his ground, proclaiming that Canada would never be up for grabs, echoing the intentions of nations seeking to maintain their sovereignty amidst global politics.
Trump's meetings with foreign leaders, unlike their previous counterparts, have become high-stakes brawls, with Trump voicing his opinions on a variety of matters including tariffs, global politics, and even war and conflicts.
As a result of Trump's unique style of handling diplomacy, foreign leaders have learned to tread carefully, navigating political minefields that are far removed from the traditional formalities of international politics.