After Trump calls Canadians ‘nasty,’ Mark Carney says the word fits trade talks

Flags fly above the Peace Arch, on the day US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs, at a Canada-US border crossing known as the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington, on April 2, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

OTTAWA — Two weeks before proposed 50% tariffs take effect, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney turned US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric back on him, calling trade talks with the United States “nasty.”

“Yes, this is a tough negotiation,” Carney said to reporters in a mix of French and English on Thursday after laughing in response to a question about Trump’s repeated use of the word “nasty” during a speech. “We can change the adjective. You can say ‘nasty.’ But I mean, this is a question of Canadian jobs. It’s a question of the future of Canadian businesses.”