Trump denies demanding Canada drop French protections in trade talks
US President Donald Trump denied demanding concessions on the French language during trade talks with Canada, which collapsed recently. He called the claim a "lie" invented by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump stated he would "never prevent Canadians from speaking French" and has "never even thought of doing something so stupid." He accused Carney of fabricating the issue to regain support in Quebec, adding "I like French Canadians." Carney suspended negotiations Friday, alleging Washington pressured Canada on French content visibility rules for streaming services and Quebec's labeling laws. A poll showed 76% of Canadians supported the withdrawal, while the US imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.