Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney threw down the gauntlet, challenging U.S. President Donald Trump to a friendly wager on the outcome of the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series.
This year’s World Series is set to be a cross-border clash, with the Los Angeles Dodgers representing the U.S. against Canada’s Toronto Blue Jays in a battle for national bragging rights.
Reports from the Associated Press and Canada’s CBC indicate that Prime Minister Carney made an appearance at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on the eve of Game 1, rallying the Blue Jays during batting practice.
When pressed by reporters about a potential bet with President Trump, Carney quipped that he think he’s scared to put his money where his mouth is. We all know Trump hates losing, so Carney rang him up, but he ducked my call.
The Prime Minister confidently added that he’s ready to take on the U.S. in this wager, boldly predicting a Blue Jays victory in six games. The World Series is played as a best-of-seven contest.
The showdown between the Dodgers and Blue Jays comes at a time of increasing tension between the U.S. and Canada. President Trump has controversially suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state to create a unified economy.
The situation has been exacerbated by the U.S. imposing a 35% tariff on Canadian imports in August. Despite efforts to reach a trade agreement, President Trump announced that he would cease all negotiations, citing his displeasure with an Ontario government ad criticizing the tariffs.
When asked about the President’s stance on sports betting, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responded that she can’t say for certain. It doesn’t seem like Trump’s thing. She’s worked alongside him for quite some time, and she’s never witnessed him place a bet.