Carney Revealed What Trump Raised in Their Long Private Call — But One Major Issue Wasn’t Discussed

The Canadian prime minister described a constructive conversation on NATO, Iran and Arctic defense while a crucial North American trade deadline was moving closer.

Mark Carney has revealed new details about a lengthy private call with Donald Trump, describing a conversation that ranged across defense, the Arctic and the Middle East while a major trade deadline approached.

The Canadian prime minister said Trump called him on June 24 for what he described as a long discussion that also involved senior officials, including U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Carney characterized the exchange as constructive and said the two governments were working together on several matters, although he deliberately stopped short of explaining every proposal discussed during the call.

He identified NATO, Iran and the wider Middle East as major subjects, while also saying the leaders discussed defense priorities and the challenge of protecting the increasingly strategic Arctic region.

That was notable because the conversation came only days before Canada, the United States and Mexico were expected to begin another critical stage of reviewing their continental trade agreement.

Yet one subject many observers expected to dominate the call apparently did not: Carney said he and Trump did not discuss the trade negotiations during that particular conversation.

The omission immediately stood out because tariffs, CUSMA and the future of North American trade had already become some of the most sensitive issues between Ottawa and Washington.

Only a week earlier, Carney had said his conversations with Trump at the G7 summit in France were detailed and technical, including discussions touching on commercial issues.

Trump, meanwhile, had openly questioned whether the United States would be better off without the existing trade pact, creating new uncertainty for Canadian industries deeply tied to American markets.

Carney publicly acknowledged that Trump had never been an enthusiastic supporter of CUSMA, but argued there were still specific areas where both governments could find practical common ground.

Forestry was one example he highlighted, while Canadian officials continued pressing Washington over tariffs and seeking greater certainty for industries exposed to sudden changes in U.S. trade policy.

The June 24 phone call, however, appears to have moved onto a different track, with security concerns taking priority as both leaders prepared for another NATO summit.

Carney said Canada was no longer a country that could fairly be described as avoiding its defense responsibilities, pointing to higher spending and plans for additional military investments.

He also emphasized the Arctic, an area where Canada and the United States share both security interests and growing concerns about strategic competition, infrastructure and military readiness.

Some of the most intriguing parts of the conversation remained deliberately vague. Carney said there were initiatives the two sides were working on that were better left undisclosed until completed.

That wording left room for speculation without confirming any new agreement, and Carney offered no dramatic announcement despite describing the broader conversation with Trump in positive terms.

The timing nevertheless ensured the call attracted attention. Canada was approaching a July review process for CUSMA while facing uncertainty over whether Washington wanted the pact renewed unchanged.

Canadian opposition politicians quickly questioned why tariffs and trade were not raised directly during such a long conversation, arguing those issues were already affecting workers and businesses.

Carney's response suggested he viewed the relationship as broader than one dispute, with trade negotiations continuing through separate channels while leaders focused on defense and international security.

For Canadians waiting for a breakthrough with Washington, the most revealing detail may therefore be what was missing: a long Trump-Carney call occurred, but the central trade fight remained unresolved.