Canada’s Mark Carney is clearly aware that President Donald Trump can take one shouted question from a journalist and run with it – and he’s been politely making sure that doesn’t happen.
Nearly every leader here in Kananaskis has had their moment in the hot seat in Donald Trump’s Oval Office.
Those “sprays” in journalistic lingo are usually choreographed affairs capped by a firm handshake between leaders for the cameras before they take discussions behind closed doors.
Under Trump, they can spiral into any direction.
Twice today Carney has stepped in, once to “exercise my role as G7 chair” and move things along and once with a quip to Trump that “I think you’ve answered a lot of questions already”.
But he’s also aware that Trump can grow frustrated with these multilateral confabs, and has been giving the president effusive praise.
“Nostalgia isn’t a strategy, ” he told G7 leaders in his opening remarks, as Trump sat to his left.
“We have to change with the times and build a better world. And some of you, such as you, Mr President, have anticipated these massive changes and are taking bold measures to address them.”
