A lip reader has revealed the “abrupt” instruction Donald Trump gave Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney during their first meeting.
Mr Carney travelled to Washington to meet the US President after his comeback election win last month. His Liberal Party staged a remarkable recovery in the polls after the resignation of Justin Trudeau to win enough seats to form a government, against expectations. The win came in the wake of Mr Trump’s tariff policy, under which America’s northern neighbour is now subject to a general levy of 25%, as well as sector-specific import taxes on cars, though some of these have been suspended as negotiations continue. The US President has previously accused Canada of not doing enough to stop the flow of the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl south. Tuesday’s meeting was the first time the leaders of the US and Canada had met since Mr Carney’s electoral victory.
Canada’s Prime Minister told voters he would “stand up” to the Mr Trump and told him on Tuesday his country was “not for sale” after the US President suggested the northern nation could become America’s 51st state.
Expert Nicola Hickling, founder of LipReader and speaking on behalf of Slingo, said Mr Trump tried to “take charge” during his chat with Mr Carney.
She said Trump greeted Carney by saying, “Hi Mark. Congratulations. Some beautiful win.”
In response, Canada’s Prime Minister said: “It was a perfect one.”
Trump replied: “What a beautiful way to do it, perfect, perfect.”
The US president then instructed his counterpart: “Just turn your face and wave over there.”
He then thanked Mr Carney for doing so.
The Canadian PM previously served as Governor of the Bank of England, the first non-British holder of the role in the institution’s 300-year history.
The 60-year-old grew up in the remote town of Fost Smith, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, before gaining a scholarship to Harvard University and earning his PhD in economics from Oxford University in 1995.
Following a 13-year stint at investment bank Goldman Sachs, Mr Carney joined the Bank of Canada and was its Governor from 2008 to 2013, when he moved to the Bank of England.
He served as Governor there until 2020, during which time he warned Brexit could cause a recession.
Returning to Canada, he succeeded Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader when he stepped down earlier this year, before a narrow election win in April.