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Photo by Blair Gable/PostmediaOTTAWA — The conflict between the Canadian and U.S. government has evolved from a trade war into a war of words.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorAfter days of strident comments and insults towards Canada from multiple U.S. government officials, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Americans should “stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough, and start being serious.”The prime minister was reacting Tuesday to various insults and online memes lobbed at Canada from Trump government officials as the dust settles on the failed bilateral negotiations and renewed trade war between both countries.For example, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Monday laughed off a suggestion that Canada and the U.S. were at war while jokingly questioning if Canada would attack the U.S. with its fleet of defunct submarines that were once part of a West Edmonton Mall tourist attraction.“We’re not at war with Canada. How are we going to be at war with Canada? What, are they going to take their two submarines from the Edmonton mall and sic them on us?”Then on Monday evening, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a picture of two women from the Cadet Training Centre in Vernon, B.C., with a demeaning comment about their appearance in an effort to belittle the Canadian Armed Forces.Carney took particular offence to that post on Tuesday morning.“It’s beneath their office,” Carney grumbled to reporters in Ottawa Tuesday.More generally, Carney said the jokes, memes and “shade” thrown by U.S. officials towards Canada are “not constructive” and are not helping mend the ailing trade relationship after a series of tit-for-tat tariffs announced in recent weeks.“But that’s their democracy,” Carney shrugged.The prime minister spoke to reporters within hours of the Liberals sweeping three byelections in ridings in B.C., Ontario and Quebec, scoring over 50 per cent of the vote in each. Two of the ridings were already held by the Liberals, whereas the Quebec riding was won over from Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.Carney celebrated his candidates’ handy wins, though he was far more evasive when asked if he would lead this party into the next election.“I’m pleased to have a remarkable caucus. You know, I my view my role, as my colleagues do, to do our job… and we’re going to stand up for Canada, we’re going to build this country, we’re going to help unite this country and we’re going to stand up for Canada,” he said.“I’m going to focus on that, that’s my concern,” he added without ever confirming that he would stay on as Liberal leader next election.National Postcnardi@postmedia.comOur website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here. 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