Canada\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
Chris Tanouye | Reuters<\/p>\n
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney<\/a> on Tuesday blasted the Trump administration for “doing memes” and “throwing shade” against his nation amid a growing trade war<\/a>.<\/p>\n Carney’s comments came in response to a reporter’s question about Trump officials mocking Canada<\/a>‘s military in social media posts and comments, and President Donald Trump<\/a> renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America<\/a>.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “But look, it’s not constructive, but that’s their democracy.”<\/p>\n Read more CNBC politics and policy coverage<\/p>\n Carney also said, “It’s beneath their office,” when asked about Trump Cabinet secretaries insulting the Canadian military.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> at the meeting of G20<\/a> finance ministers in Asheville, North Carolina. <\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n “I think this is very unfortunate that Prime Minister Carney has turned this into … a political shouting match,” Bessent said.<\/p>\n “I mean, we’re not at war with Canada. How are we going to be at war with Canada?” the Treasury secretary asked. “They’re going to take their two set submarines from the Edmonton Mall and sic them on us.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n The tweet was widely perceived by users who replied to this post as Hegseth body-shaming the instructor.<\/p>\n “Just a vile, insecure scumbag and a disgrace to the US military,” Meidas Touch Editor-in-Chief Ron Filipkowski wrote in his reply.<\/p>\n