In a Washington news conference at the close of a NATO summit, the prime minister all but said the former central bank governor and current chair of Brookfield Asset Management could have a seat at the federal cabinet table if he wanted it. Despite a report that Justin Trudeau is dissatisfied with Chrystia Freeland’s performance as finance minister, he also said he’s confident in her as “a close friend and ally and partner in doing really big things for Canada.” (The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail)

Talking point: Carney is a Liberal who has said he’s interested in the party leadership someday, but he’s never run for office. Freeland’s situation echoes that of her predecessor Bill Morneau in 2020, when unnamed figures in Trudeau’s office badmouthed him in the press, Trudeau said he backed his minister … and Morneau quit six days later. Unlike Freeland, Morneau had accumulated political baggage and had real differences with Trudeau. This time around, Trudeau and his government are very unpopular and a radical shakeup could be appealing.