Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with the news media after he suspended trade negotiations with the United States, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 22, 2026.
Chris Tanouye | Reuters
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday blasted the Trump administration for “doing memes” and “throwing shade” against his nation amid a growing trade war.
Carney’s comments came in response to a reporter’s question about Trump officials mocking Canada’s military in social media posts and comments, and President Donald Trump signing an executive order directing the renaming of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for federal government use.
The prime minister said there is a “positive opportunity that has always existed with the United States for a mutually beneficial trade deal that respects Canadian sovereignty” and which respects Canada’s right to protect and promote Quebec’s culture and the French language.
“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions” about trade, Carney said in Ottawa.
“But look, it’s not constructive, but that’s their democracy.”
Carney also said, “It’s beneath their office,” when asked about Trump Cabinet secretaries insulting the Canadian military.
The prime minister’s comments came a day after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mocked Canada and its military during an interview with CNBC at the meeting of G20 finance ministers in Asheville, North Carolina.
Asked during that interview about markets wondering if the United States is in a “tit-for-tat trade war with Canada,” Bessent replied, “Well, I don’t think you can be in a tit-for-tat with someone who’s 13 times larger than you are.”
“I think this is very unfortunate that Prime Minister Carney has turned this into … a political shouting match,” Bessent said.
“I mean, we’re not at war with Canada. How are we going to be at war with Canada?” the Treasury secretary asked. “What, they’re going to take their two submarines from the Edmonton Mall and sic them on us?”
On Monday night, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X a message with a Canadian flag emoji and the words “(this is real)” above a photo of a female cadet receiving a medal at the Vernon Cadet Training Center from a female instructor. The training center is for Canadian youths.
The tweet was widely perceived by users who replied to this post as Hegseth body-shaming the instructor.
“Wow. The Secretary of Defence is body shaming cadet groups. A youth group. This is not a military unit. They are kids looking for adventure, test themselves and align themselves with the values of service,” wrote X user Danny O’Reagan, who identified himself as a Canadian military veteran. “Don’t be a Pete.”
U.S. and Canadian officials have engaged in a war of words since late August, when trade talks between the two nations collapsed.
The U.S. on Aug. 22 slapped tariffs of 50% on some Canadian imports worth $20 billion.
Three days later, Canada said it would tariff more than 700 types of U.S. goods at rates ranging from 15% to 50% in what it called a “dollar for dollar” match on the U.S. duties. Those retaliatory tariffs are set to take effect on Sept. 8.
