Transcription
Back now to US politics, and we've already heard that the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is meeting President Trump today. Uh, it's barely been a week since he was unexpectedly elected. So, what can we expect from his visit to the US? Let's speak to political reporter at the National Review, Audrey Fulberg, who's in Washington for us.
Audrey, uh, good to have you with us today on BBC News.
Yes. So many people, uh, both sides of the border there and elsewhere will be looking on, seeing what emerges from this meeting between the two men. What do you think we should be looking out for?
Well, it's anyone's guess how this meeting will go. Trump has, of course, sounded a slightly positive note about Carney thus far, calling him a quote, "very nice gentleman and a very nice man." Um, but he's he's uh also struck quite an indifferent tone. Uh, joking that, "I'm not sure what he wants to see me about. I guess he wants to make a deal. Everybody does." The the stakes are very high for Carney here because um he, of course, you know, rode the anti-Trump wave to to, as you said, an unexpected victory. So his supporters are going to be watching very closely. Um, and this, of course, comes weeks after the Zalinsky blow-up in the Oval Office. So Canadians are a little bit nervous because if this goes wrong, that could hurt their relationship for months or perhaps years to come. So, expect lots of talk about defense and and tariffs, of course, as well.
Um, and this comes as world leaders, you know, across the globe are begging for facetime with President Trump amid this trade war, as we slowly approach the uh 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, that deadline that is that is coming up where where countries could see a uh a big swing toward reciprocal tariffs yet again.
And then, Audrey, we're going to talk about Mike Pence next, of course, President Trump's vice president during his first term in office. Uh, and we'll bring you a clip just before we uh get into that discussion, Audrey and myself. But Mike Pence has criticized uh pres the president over tariffs, Russia, and the January 6th pardons. And in an interview with CNN, the former vice president said that America's wavering support for Ukraine has emboldened Russia.
"I really believe that Putin only understands power, and it's the reason why in this moment we need to make it clear that the United States is going to continue to lead the free world, to provide Ukraine with the military support they need to repel the Russian invasion and achieve a just and lasting peace. Uh, the wavering support the administration has shown over the last few months, I believe, has only emboldened Russia."
Audrey, how do you think those comments from Mike Pence are landing?
Well, it's important to remember that given Mike Pence challenged his former boss for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, he's widely considered persona grata in Republican circles in in Washington. Though, of course, um, you know, his decision to uh to to stand by the election results in in 2020 has has has given him new respect among Democrats in Washington. Um, but on the 2024 campaign trail, he also um you just mentioned those comments just now. He also uh you know, criticized strongly Trump on trade, abortion policy, and defense on the campaign trail as well. um on trade in particular, expect him to continue those criticisms. Um, you know, he's talked constantly in recent weeks about how during the first Trump administration, his the Pence and Trump had a much more free trade outlook. That's of course because there were a lot more free trade restrainer types who who restrained Trump from his more tariff uh impulses um that first go around. So, expect to see a lot more criticism um from Pence over the coming weeks on this. um not just on those issues, but also Trump has signed so many executive orders this time around. Um, really testing the bounds of presidential power, which is not particularly popular among traditional Republican types like Mike Pence. So, I'd expect to see him continue to criticize his former boss on that as well, in addition to defense.
And Audrey, let's also talk about the defense secretary, Pete Haggsef. Um, it's reported he has directed the US military to reduce the number of four-star generals by 20%. In a memo seen by US media, Mr. Hegseth said the cuts would remove what he called a redundant military structure and streamline its leadership. So, Audrey, what sort of reaction is there there in the states to to this news?
Democrats are definitely stunned by this news. Uh, Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has said that uh you know, there shouldn't be arbitrary percentages when it comes to really uh big cuts like this at the Pentagon. Um, but this isn't a particular this is not a particularly surprising move from Hegseth. He spent his first few months on the job criticizing the Pentagon for administrative and bureaucratic bloat. He says that there's an inverse relationship between the size and scope of of the Pentagon and and staff and victory on the battlefield. Um, so this is not a surprising move. I'd expect to see even down the line if he hangs on to his job after the signal debacle um to continue advocating for these across the board cuts. Um, but it is it's definitely a big deal uh in Washington, and Republicans and Democrats will continue to be watching this very closely.
Okay, Audrey, thank you very much for that. Audrey Fulberg from the National Review there in