We’ve all been there before, when people tell you to take action, go in strong, be robust, stand your ground etc., but when you turn around, those same people are off hiding away in the shadows!
Like it or not, Trump was voted in as President of the US and they are not a tiny country. He will also be there for the next 4 years. That’s that. Taking him on, like Zelensky did, ain’t gonna work, and you will end up backtracking, just as Zelensky had to. It is that simple
So, Carney says Canada isn’t for sale, there was no need to shout it out or draw Trump in for a shouting match. English isn’t Zelensky’s first language, otherwise, he would have made his points at that infamous meeting at the White House, with a bit more coyness! Telling Trump that America May be sitting pretty now, but war can come to anyone, is not a smart way to make the point, and it was what led to the unfortunate harsh exchange between them
Carney on the other hand, knew he had nothing to gain by riling Trump. It was the same for Kier Starmer, who also navigated his meeting with Trump sensibly. The US is ‘the’ superpower, it doesn’t matter what or how they got to that status; it is what it is. They sneeze, the rest of us catch cold (in particular, their next door neighbour; Canada). So, why antagonise their president?? It doesn’t matter what people think of Trump, he is the American President, and as such, it makes very little sense to rile him.
Is Trump ever going to stop talking about making Canada the 51st state? No. Is Canada ever going to be the 51st state? No. So, what would be the point in Carney getting into an argument about it, with Trump?
Well done Carney
Knowledge can improve the world we live in 