and an ongoing trade war with its largest trading partner, the United States. Carney, a former central banker who has never held public office in Canada, steps into the role amid numerous challenges, including leading the Liberal Party into an election scheduled for later this year.

In a press conference following his swearing-in, Carney directly addressed Canada’s growing tensions with its southern neighbor, stating: “We will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States. America is not Canada.” Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. Carney also stated that he currently has no plans to visit the U.S. but intends to hold discussions with the leaders of the United Kingdom and France.

Addressing the country’s most pressing issues, Carney outlined his two top priorities: “Protecting Canadian workers and their families in the face of unjustified foreign trade actions, and growing this great country by putting more money in Canadians’ pockets—ensuring that government spends less so Canada can invest more, including building millions of homes.”

Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, was elected leader of the Liberal Party in a landslide victory on March 9. Over his decades-long career in finance, he has helped steer governments through major global crises and periods of upheaval—experience he now hopes to leverage in his new role. The Liberals had been courting Carney for more than a decade, and he previously advised Trudeau on Canada’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he did not officially enter politics until Trudeau announced his resignation in January. Unlike his competitors, all of whom were sitting politicians, Carney finds himself in the rare position of becoming Canada’s prime minister without holding a seat in Parliament.

Carney, who must call an election before October 20, joked that Canadians “should expect to go to the polls before November” but did not provide a specific date for the election. (CNN)