U.S. President Donald Trump meets Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House, on May 6, in Washington.Evan Vucci/The Canadian Press

Seven minutes before Prime Minister Mark Carney was scheduled to arrive at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a combative post on Truth Social saying he planned to press him on why the U.S. subsidizes Canada to the tune of US$200-billion a year.

Uh-oh. Ambush?

No. As Mr. Carney sat down Tuesday in the Oval Office, he met a charming Mr. Trump. A pussycat, really.

The President praised Mr. Carney about his come-from-behind election victory. He said he watched the Prime Minister in the election debate, which seems hard to believe but was meant as flattery.

When Mr. Trump said he still believed Canada should become the 51st state, he added it takes two to tango. Mr. Carney chimed in to say he’d just spoken to Canada’s owners – voters – and that Canada is not for sale. Mr. Trump took it with a smile.

But the........

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