Carney Recounts Trump's White House Key Joke Amid Trade Tensions

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly recounted a joke made by U.S. President Donald Trump during a May 2025 White House meeting, where Trump gave him a ceremonial gold key and added, "Maybe they'll shoot you." Carney shared the anecdote at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto on September 15, 2026, using it to characterize the current volatile state of Canada-U.S. relations amid an ongoing trade dispute. Speaking to an audience of over 1,000 CEOs, global asset managers, and sovereign wealth fund executives, Carney described how Trump presented him with a box containing a big gold key, saying it was "really special." After Carney expressed admiration, Trump told him, "It's a key to the White House. You just bring it, they'll let you in," and then added the cautionary remark. Carney said the joke "sort of sums up the relationship" between the two countries, contrasting it with receiving a key to his hometown of Fort Smith in Canada's Northwest Territories, where "you get the key, you're in." He mimicked Trump's speaking style and gestures, delighting some audience members.