Canadian PM Mark Carney told Canadians their relationship with America is now a weakness, and his plan to fix it is a direct shot at Trump

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a video that Canada’s long-standing economic ties to the United States have gone from being a strength to a clear weakness. This marks a major shift in how Canada sees its relationship with its southern neighbor. Carney made it clear that the country needs to change course to secure its future stability.

Carney pointed directly to President Donald Trump’s trade policies as the driving force behind this decision. He highlighted the high tariffs that have hit Canadian workers in the steel and auto industries, saying these tariffs have created ongoing uncertainty that is holding back investment in Canada. In his view, the United States has shifted its trade approach to levels not seen since the Great Depression.

During the 10-minute address, Carney was blunt about what Canada should not do. He said that simply waiting for the United States to return to normal is not a real plan for a sovereign country. According to Huffpost, he stated, “Hope isn’t a plan and nostalgia is not a strategy.”

Carney’s push for trade independence comes as US-Canada tensions reach a breaking point

The tension between the two countries has been growing. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently criticized Carney at a conference, mocking his diplomatic efforts in China and claiming the Canadian leader has a problem with the United States.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Commerce Department later said Lutnick’s comments were directed at the trade imbalance, not Canada itself. But the exchange added more friction to an already strained relationship, reports CBC. This is all happening as the three North American nations prepare for a required review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as CUSMA, scheduled for July 1.

President Trump has reportedly called the current agreement a bad deal, raising the possibility that he could let it lapse. Reports have also raised wider questions about how Trump’s advisors manage his decision-making during high-stakes moments, adding another layer of uncertainty to these negotiations.

Carney has promised to keep Canadians regularly updated on his government’s efforts to reduce reliance on the United States. His plan includes attracting new foreign investment, doubling Canada’s clean energy capacity, and removing internal trade barriers to build a stronger economy. He stressed that Canada must take care of itself and can no longer depend on a single foreign partner.

Carney’s position is not new. Earlier this year, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he spoke against the economic coercion of smaller nations by larger powers. That speech drew a direct response from President Trump, who said that Canada exists because of the United States. Carney’s recent address shows he is not backing down.

He reminded Canadians that the country stood alongside the U.S. through both World Wars and the war in Afghanistan, but said the current situation demands a firm response. As the July CUSMA review deadline gets closer, the road ahead is unclear. Some experts say Canada still holds leverage through its supply of crude oil and critical minerals, but Washington’s political climate remains unpredictable.

Trump’s White House has been making headlines on several fronts lately, including what investigators found in recent UFO files, reflecting just how wide-ranging the current administration’s agenda has become. Carney’s message to Canadians was straightforward: he will not hide the difficulties ahead, but he is committed to building a country that can handle outside pressures on its own.