Also says Canada has 'shifted in Trumpian direction'
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance weighed in on the latest trade deal with Canada at a fundraising event Wednesday, saying Prime Minister Mark Carney tried to "out-tough" U.S. President Donald Trump while crediting his longtime friend, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, as a helpful advocate for Canada.
In audio from the fundraiser in Southampton, N.Y., provided to The Canadian Press by a source who attended the private function, Vance said Carney is a "very sweet guy" and said he gets along with him quite well.
But, Vance said, Carney "comes in and puffs his chest out and says, 'I'm going to, like, out-tough Donald Trump."'
"It's hilarious because Carney presents this as some victory for Canada when fundamentally, like, they climb down on a lot of issues," Vance told the room.
"But the quiet sort of behind-the-scenes story is that this, like, random MP who has a good relationship with us has been a pretty effective advocate," he said about Jivani.
Casts Poilievre as 'non-entity' in trade negotiations
Vance added that there's "this guy Pierre Poilievre, who is the leader of the Conservatives in Canada," adding he is a "non-entity" in negotiations.
Asked by a reporter if Canada can trust U.S. President Donald Trump to honour a trade deal, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said 'the only thing that's protecting us from tariffs on a large part of our economy is the fact that we do have the original deal negotiated by Brian Mulroney.' Poilievre also proposed using a strategic energy and mineral reserve as long-term leverage.
The White House and the vice-president's office had not responded to requests for comment.
Trump announced late Tuesday a last-minute deal to delay for three days new tariffs that were set to hit a range of Canadian products.
The temporary reprieve followed a phone call with Carney earlier in the day and weeks of intensified bilateral negotiations.
Trump on Wednesday said it was a "good deal for everybody" and said his administration has a "very nice relationship with leadership right now."
Multiple news reports have said the deal will see the United States lower sectoral tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles. In return, Carney told premiers to return American booze to liquor store shelves.
It's unclear what else Canada agreed to. Trump claimed the agreement would drop tariffs on American farmers to zero.
Canada-U.S. Minister Dominic LeBlanc returned to Washington Thursday for talks with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ahead of a Saturday 12:01 a.m. deadline to get the agreement across the finish line.
U.S. wants 'to change Canadian behaviour'
Vance told the fundraiser for young Republican donors that Trump is not going to "bend over to make Canada happy" but he "saw that there was an opportunity here to get some wins for the country."
"And the whole point of this is to change Canada's behaviour," Vance said. "Which they, you know, not entirely, but they've certainly shifted in a Trumpian direction."
The Canada-U.S. relationship was upended by Trump's return to the White House last year with the president imposing tariffs and repeatedly threatening annexation.
Trump's relationship with former prime minister Justin Trudeau was famously tumultuous and ultimately helped lead to the latter's resignation.
The vice-president said Greer and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are leading negotiations with Canada, but he's been more involved than usual because of his relationship with Jivani.
Jivani 'quietly inserting himself' in negotiations
"Now what's interesting is [Jivani's] been like quietly inserting himself into these negotiations," Vance told the crowd.
Axios reported that Donald Trump Jr., as well as Lutnick's and senior Trump adviser Steve Witkoff's sons were in attendance at the event.
Vance said he asked Jivani why he was helping the Liberal government and the MP responded that he cares about whether Canada wins.
Vance said Jivani effectively advocated on areas where there was a "win-win," including energy and automobile tariffs.
The vice-president and Canadian Conservative MP for Durham have been friends since they both attended Yale. Jivani has previously written about their close relationship and that he spoke at Vance's wedding.
Vance calls friend 'a very good dude'
The vice-president noted their close relationship Wednesday, calling Jivani a "very good dude."
Jivani has travelled to Washington on numerous occasions, including for an April meeting with Canadian business interests and Greer.
During a previous visit to Washington in February on a solo diplomatic mission, Jivani met with both Vance and Greer. He also stopped by the White House and said he spoke briefly with Trump.
At the time, Jivani said he wanted to contribute to Carney's efforts to negotiate a new trade deal with the Trump administration.
Jivani's office did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.
The MP's outreach to the Trump administration has caused friction within the Canadian Conservative Party. Poilievre has repeatedly called for any deal with Trump to be tariff-free.
Poilievre — who did not make a stop in the U.S. capital when he took a trip south of the border in March — publicly rebuked Jivani following his first visit to D.C. after the backbench MP told a right-wing news outlet he felt Canadians' reaction to the trade war amounted to an "anti-American hissy fit."
"He speaks for himself and I speak for the party," Poilievre said on Feb. 17.
