WASHINGTON (TNND) — The newly elected prime minister of America's neighbor to the north arrived at the White House Tuesday with a couple of bones to pick with President Donald Trump.

Minutes after his arrival in the Oval Office, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose victory last week marked a stunning political comeback credited to his tough stance against Trump's trade policies and calls to make Canada the United States' 51st state, told Trump, "As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale. We're sitting in one right now."

To that, Trump said, "Never say never. Never say never."

The leaders managed to avoid a disastrous confrontation similar to Trump's now-infamous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February, but Carney did not let Trump's comments about Canadian sovereignty slide.

“Respectfully, Canadians’ view on this is not going to change, on the 51st state," Carney said, getting the final word on the matter before reporters.

Trump's tariffs on Canada were the top focus of the meeting. The president imposed double-digit tariffs on Canada, along with Mexico and China, long before the rest of the world, sparking animosity among Canadians, some of whom have boycotted American products or travel to the U.S.

Minutes before Carney arrived at the White House, Trump posted on social media, "We don’t need their Cars, we don’t need their Energy, we don’t need their Lumber, we don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain. They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us!"

Once face-to-face with Carney, the president spoke with a softer tone. He told reporters there's nothing Carney could say in their meetings that could get him to lift tariffs on Canada.

When asked why, he said, "That's just the way it is."

Carney pushed back and said Canada is America's biggest client.

“You know, 50% of a car that comes from Canada is American. That’s not like anywhere else in the world," Carney said.

During his victory speech exactly one week ago, Carney told supporters, "President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, that will never, ever happen.”

With a laugh, Trump said, "I think I was probably the greatest thing that happened to him, but I can't take full credit.”

"Greatest" may not be the word Carney or Canadians would use, but Trump's trade policies and expansion view have certainly, like for much of the world, altered their lives.