Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Clarifies ‘Maple MAGA’ Remarks

A viral clip of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney saying “Make America Great Again” has sparked widespread discussion online, leading to the phrase “Maple MAGA” and attracting mockery from social media users. While Carney did use U.S. President Donald Trump’s well-known slogan during a speech in New York, he was not expressing support for Trump or the MAGA movement. Carney aimed to highlight how a stronger Canadian economy can benefit the United States.

The Rise of ‘Maple MAGA’

The clip gained attention following Carney’s remarks at the Economic Club of New York, where he stated, “This is good for all Canadians, but it is also good for the United States, because it makes us a better ally.” He emphasized that “Canada Strong will help make America great again.” Carney’s “Canada Strong” refers to his ambition to challenge Trump’s policies and strengthen Canada.

The term “Maple MAGA” quickly became associated with his statement, often used to describe Canadian individuals or political movements that align with Trump’s ideology.

Carney rose to power last year amidst significant anti-U.S. sentiment, fueled by Trump’s reference to Canada as the 51st state and the ensuing trade conflict between the two countries. Ottawa sought closer ties with European NATO members who also faced criticism from Trump’s administration. In January, Carney noted that powerful global players were “using economic integration as coercion.”

Carney’s Call for Cooperation

On Thursday, ahead of the USMCA trade agreement review, Carney adopted a more conciliatory approach toward the U.S. This agreement, involving the United States, Mexico, and Canada, holds substantial economic importance for Canada, given the country’s economy is under scrutiny having slipped into a technical recession, defined as shrinking economic growth for two consecutive quarters.

Carney emphasized collaboration, stating, “We should work together and compete with the world together.” He added, “Although Canada and the United States have had differences, we’ve always ultimately resolved them due to our deep shared values and common interests.”

He highlighted that roughly 99 percent of U.S. natural gas imports originate from Canada, along with 85 percent of its electricity. Canada supplies more than half of the U.S.’s crude oil. “Canada is America’s largest customer, buying more goods than China, Japan, and Germany combined,” Carney explained, emphasizing the mutual strength between the two nations.