Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of Canada, has called on President-elect Donald Trump to end the use of memes and social media taunts regarding the U.S.-Canada trade relationship. Carney’s comments follow a period of heightened diplomatic friction between the two nations, specifically regarding trade policies and border security.

The tension was exacerbated by a social media post from Pete Hegseth, a Trump ally and nominee for Secretary of Defense, which disparaged the Canadian military. The post drew immediate criticism from Canadian officials and observers, who viewed the rhetoric as counterproductive to the long-standing security and economic partnership between the two countries. Carney argued that such public mockery undermines the serious nature of trade negotiations and diplomatic discourse.

While Carney frames the behavior as a disruption to necessary statecraft, the Trump transition team has not issued a formal response to the request to change their communication strategy. The situation highlights a growing divide between traditional diplomatic expectations and the incoming administration's preference for direct, often provocative, social media engagement. As trade discussions loom, the impact of these digital exchanges on formal policy remains a point of concern for Canadian stakeholders.