Seemingly unfazed, Carney reportedly obeyed, with Trump issuing his thanks and thanking everybody around too after the mics were switched off.
Trump then allegedly turned to Vice President JD Vance and other dignitaries, gesturing with his thumb and resolving: “I admire him.”
Body language expert Beth Dawson analyzed the same moment between the two world leaders, reflecting on Carney’s approach towards Trump as showing ‘assertiveness’ but also ‘a subtle note of submission’.
“The elbow touch, however, shows that he wants to establish connection on equal terms. His expression is one of determination. Carney is not passive, but he is also careful not to come across as overly forceful and he does seem slightly intimidated,” she added.
On the other hand, Trump displayed ‘an unmistakable display of dominance’, which continued when the pair then went on into the Oval Office, with Trump unable to bring up his suggestion for Canada to become America’s 51st ‘cherished’ state.
Donald Trump and Mark Carney met on May 6 (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Despite the ongoing tensions between the countries amid the tariff war, Trump and Carney doled out much praise on one another, with Trump describing Carney as a ‘very talented person’ and Carney branding Trump a ‘transformational president’.
Although, that didn’t stop Trump from mentioning Canada becoming part of America, to which the newly appointed prime minister echoed the same sentiment as his predecessor – Canada is ‘never [going to be] for sale’.
Carney said: “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.
“Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign in the last several months, it’s not for sale. Won’t be for sale, ever.”Nevertheless, ever the one to see a ‘no’ as another battle to overcome, Trump responded: “I say, ‘Never say never’.”