‘Trump trying to break us, should never forget….’: Mark Carney tells Canadians in Liberal Party victory speech

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party clinched victory in Monday’s federal election, marking a sharp political turnaround driven by a wave of nationalism following provocative threats and trade aggression from US President Donald Trump.

The Liberals are projected to win 167 seats—five short of a majority in the 343-member House of Commons—but will remain in power after former PM Justin Trudeau’s resignation earlier this year. The Conservatives, with 145 seats, have vowed to hold the minority government accountable.

The Liberals secured 43.1 per cent of the vote share, narrowly ahead of the Conservatives at 41.7 per cent. The Bloc Québécois won 23 seats, the NDP 7, and the Greens 1.

The election momentum shifted dramatically after Trump imposed tariffs, launched a trade war, and threatened to annex Canada as the 51st US state. New Liberal leader Mark Carney responded with a firm stance, vowing to invest billions to reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States.

Speaking to jubilant supporters in Ottawa, Carney emphasised national unity and the need to adapt to a transformed global order.

“We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons,” Carney said, as reported by the Associated Press. “As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water—our country. These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never… ever happen. But we must also recognise that our world has fundamentally changed.”

Conservatives fall short despite Trudeau’s exit

The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, had hoped to frame the election as a referendum on former prime minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity waned in recent years due to rising food and housing costs.

However, Trump’s attacks on Canada appeared to galvanise voters against the Conservatives. Trudeau’s resignation further reshaped the political landscape, allowing Carney—an experienced economist and former central banker—to take over the Liberal leadership and eventually lead the party to victory.

Delivering a concession speech in Ottawa, with the outcome of his own parliamentary seat still hanging in the balance, Poilievre acknowledged the setback but pledged to press on.

“We are aware that we didn’t cross the finish line,” he said. “We understand that Canadians want change. Change is difficult. It demands persistence and effort. That’s why we need to reflect on the lessons of tonight—to ensure we achieve a better result the next time voters decide the future of our country.”

Trump’s trolling fuels backlash

On election day itself, Trump stoked tensions further by posting on social media that Canada should become the 51st US state, even falsely claiming he was “on the ballot” for Canadians to vote on. He also inaccurately asserted that the United States subsidises Canada, writing: “It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!”

The comments incensed many Canadians, fuelling boycotts of American products and holiday cancellations. Some analysts believe Trump’s behaviour contributed to the high voter turnout, with a record-breaking 7.3 million people casting their votes ahead of election day.

Despite the backdrop of a tragic attack at a Vancouver street festival over the weekend, Canadians turned out in force—many evidently motivated by a desire to stand up for their country’s sovereignty.