Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recounted a peculiar gift he received from then-President Donald Trump: a golden key to the White House, accompanied by a warning that security might shoot him.
Speaking at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, Carney described the encounter, which mirrored a similar ceremony where he received a key to his hometown of Fort Smith. "It was an emotional moment," Carney said, recalling the White House visit.
Adopting a Trump impression, complete with hand gestures, Carney relayed the former president's words: "Mark, I want to give you something really special... So special, Mark. So special." The gift was a golden key to the White House. Trump then added, according to Carney, "‘You just bring it. They’ll let you in.’ And then he says, ‘Maybe they’ll shoot you.’"
The audience responded with laughter. Carney commented, "And that sort of sums up the relationship that we have."
Carney contrasted this with the Canadian approach, stating, "Just to be clear, if we give you a key to Canada, we’re not gonna shoot you here. We’re gonna welcome you."
This anecdote comes amidst a history of contentious relations between the Trump administration and Canada, which included threats, insults directed at Canadian leaders, and the initiation of a trade war.
Carney noted that Trump had been giving out ceremonial keys to the White House for years, even during his previous term. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso were among other notable figures who received similar gifts, according to reports. Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that the key would grant him entry to the White House even after his presidency.