Why Mark Carney’s ‘Make America Great Again’ Line Wasn’t What It Seemed
A clip of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney uttering the phrase “Make America Great Again” has ricocheted across social media, spawning the term “Maple MAGA” and triggering waves of mockery from critics. On the surface, it looked like a stunning reversal for a leader who rose to power by vowing to stand up to President Donald Trump.
But Carney wasn’t embracing the MAGA movement. Instead, he was making a strategic argument about mutual economic strength—one that many observers may have missed in the 10-second snippet that went viral.
Speaking Thursday at the Economic Club of New York, Carney told the audience:
“This is good for all Canadians, but it is also good for the United States, because it makes us a better ally.” He added, “Canada Strong will help make America great again.”
The phrase “Canada Strong” is the branding of Carney’s pledge to “stand up to Donald Trump and build a stronger Canada”—a platform that helped him sweep into office last year amid a surge of anti-U.S. sentiment.
That sentiment was fueled by Trump’s repeated references to Canada as the 51st state and a escalating trade war that has strained one of the world’s most important bilateral relationships. Ottawa has since pivoted closer to European NATO allies that have also been targeted by Trump’s sharp rhetoric.
In January, Carney warned that “the most powerful global players” were now “using economic integration as coercion.” But on Thursday, his tone shifted markedly. With the upcoming review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA)—a cornerstone of Canada’s economy—Carney struck a more conciliatory note.
The timing is critical. Canada fell into a technical recession last quarter, with two consecutive months of GDP contraction, putting enormous pressure on Carney to stabilize the economy. More than half of U.S. crude oil imports come from Canada, along with 85% of its electricity and nearly all of its natural gas imports. Canada is also America’s largest customer, buying more goods than China, Japan and Germany combined.
“We know that, while Canada and the United States have had our differences over the years, we have always, eventually, worked through them, because our shared values and common interests run deep,” Carney said, adding: “That is mutual strength.”
Rather than a MAGA endorsement, the prime minister’s remarks appear to be a calculated effort to reframe the trade relationship ahead of the USMCA review—a moment when Canada’s economic leverage could be tested. By borrowing Trump’s language, Carney may have been trying to speak directly to the American president’s own framework: a stronger Canada means a stronger America.
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