President Donald Trump hailed his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Mark Carney, as a "world-class leader" Tuesday and quipped trade talks with Canada lag because he wants to be "great," too.

The president said of Carney: "He's a great prime minister. I mean, he could represent me anytime."

But, then Trump added: "He could be very nasty, maybe as nasty as anybody."

When asked by a reporter what is holding up trade talks with Carney if he’s such a great man, Trump said: “Because I want to be a great man, too."

Carney's second visit to the United States comes as one of the world’s most durable and amicable alliances has been fractured by Trump's trade war and annexation threats.

Among the topics up for discussion are trade and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is critical to Canada's economy and is up for a review next year.

Trump said he was willing to revisit the free trade agreement, which was enacted during his first term, or seek “different deals.”