"We won’t let Trump win", says Canada’s new prime minister

The ruling party in Canada elected Mark Carney as its new leader and the country’s next prime minister on Sunday, replacing Justin Trudeau at a time of historic tensions with the United States under Donald Trump’s presidency.

Liberal Party President Sachit Mehra announced that Carney, a 59-year-old former banker with little political experience, won the leadership race with 85.9 percent of the vote.

In his victory speech in Ottawa, Carney warned, “The Americans want our country,” emphasizing, “We cannot allow Trump to win.” He stressed that Canada must focus on “building a new economy and forging new trade relationships.”

Meanwhile, in a farewell address to party supporters, Trudeau highlighted Canada's existential challenges due to threats from its southern neighbor under Trump’s leadership. “Canadians are facing an existential and economic challenge from our neighbor,” Trudeau said to a crowd gathered in Ottawa for the leadership announcement.

Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, was the clear frontrunner in the leadership race. Trudeau had announced in January that he would step down after nearly a decade in office amid mounting pressures, including declining party popularity and the approaching general elections. The transition of power between Trudeau and Carney is expected to take place in the coming days with the formation of a new government.

Carney’s campaign gained momentum due to his extensive experience in managing economic crises, a key argument he emphasized throughout his campaign. “We are facing the most serious crisis of our lifetime,” Carney said in his final campaign event on Friday, asserting that his career has prepared him for this moment.

Trump’s administration has reignited trade tensions with Canada, imposing tariffs on imports and repeatedly expressing his desire for Canada to become “the 51st US state.”

These moves have angered many Canadians, leading to growing reluctance to travel to the US and a boycott of American products.