Mark Carney Tells Reporter: ‘Glad You Couldn’t Tell’ What I Was Thinking As Trump Talked

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joked during a press conference after his Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday that he’s “glad” the reporters in the room “couldn’t tell what was going through my mind.”

Carney and Trump took questions from the press after their bilateral meeting and were asked repeatedly about Trump’s past statements saying that Canada should become a part of the U.S. While Trump said “never say never” and that he was still interested in the idea, Carney made clear it was not on the table.

The topic came up again in Carney’s post-meeting solo press conference. “Good afternoon, Prime Minister. Tonda McCharles, Toronto Star. I was watching your face through the meeting in the Oval Office, and I wondered what was going through your mind when the President talked about erasing the artificial border and how he criticized your predecessor and Madame Freeland,” Carney was asked. McCharles was referring to former Canadian  MP and trade representative Christina Freeland, who Trump attacked during their Oval Office sitdown.

“Well, thank you, I guess, for your question. I’m glad that you couldn’t tell what was going through my mind,” Carney replied with a smile.

“Oh, I could,” joked McCharles.

“With respect to the first point, the President has made known his wish about that issue for some time. I’ve been careful always to distinguish between wish and reality. I was clear there. In the Oval Office, as I’ve been clear throughout, on behalf of Canadians, that this is never going to happen. Canada is not for sale, it never will be for sale,” Carney replied, adding:

Somethings, as I said in the room, some things are never for sale and he agreed with that. So I distinguish between the two and then with respect to the importance of re-establishing a constructive relationship for negotiations of a partnership, of an economic and security partnership which is what we were here for. I look forward not back and I think we established a good basis today.

Watch the clip above.