Trump taunts 'future Governor of Canada Mark Carney.' Hoekstra left 'smiling' after meeting Eby
Donald Trump has once again referred to the prime minister as the “governor of Canada,” this time in a social media post about invasive species in the Great Lakes.
“I’m working with Governor Gretchen Whitmer on trying to save The Great Lakes from the rather violent and destructive Asian Carp, which is rapidly taking over Lake Michigan, and all of the beautiful surrounds,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, referencing the governor of Michigan.
He continued: “I’ll be asking other Governors to join into this fight, including those of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, New York and, of course, the future Governor of Canada, Mark Carney, who I know will be happy to contribute to this worthy cause.”
Trump has used the term before to describe both Carney and his predecessor. In December of 2024 he referred to then prime minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” of “the great state of Canada,” having already made mention of wanting Canada to become the 51st state in the Union.
More recently, in a Truth Social post in January , Trump wrote: “If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken.”
Trump’s concerns about Asian carp — also known as invasive carp — are justified, though it’s not true that they are “rapidly taking over Lake Michigan.”
A government of Canada website lists four species of invasive carp and notes: “To date, there have been a few rare captures of individual Bighead Carp and Grass Carp in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes,” citing three of the former between 2000 and 2003, and 23 of the latter since 2012. It adds: “No Silver Carp or Black Carp have been found in the Great Lakes.”
However, the species flourishes in waterways to the south, and a recent article by the vice-chair of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission warns: “Asian Carp: The War Isn’t Over.” It outlines continuing efforts to keep the invasive species out of the Great Lakes.
Trump’s taunts come as the U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, wrapped up a 45-minute meeting with B.C. Premier David Eby on Tuesday and said they were “both smiling” afterwards.
Surrounded by reporters as he walked away from the B.C. legislature after the meeting, Hoekstra said: “The president and the prime minister talked on Sunday. They may talk again this week. I think any update should come from the prime minister or the president.”
He added: “We covered lots of topics and we’re both smiling and it was it was a good meeting.”
Eby said in a statement: “The conversation included a frank discussion around what would be required to make progress on the softwood lumber dispute and tariffs.” Various duties on B.C. softwood add up to 45 per cent.
He added: “I also asked the ambassador to relay a message to the president and Congress, around allowing western states to join British Columbia in recognizing permanent daylight saving time so our commerce can be greater aligned.”
Other topics included trade talks, B.C.’s continued ban on U.S. liquor, and co-operation on transnational crime and money laundering.
“Canadian and American people will always consider each other friends, neighbours and even family,” Eby concluded.
— With files from Bloomberg News
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