President-elect Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, mockingly referring to him as the "governor" of the "Great State of Canada" in a late-night post on Truth Social. The remark follows a series of tariff threats from Trump, as well as his recent suggestion that Canada could join the United States as the 51st state.
"It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada," Trump wrote. "I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on tariffs and trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!"
The quip came after Trump proposed imposing 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports, a move he has argued would rectify what he describes as a $100 billion subsidy from the U.S. to Canada. During an earlier interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Trump doubled down on his suggestion, saying, "If we're going to subsidize them, let them become a state."
Trudeau, speaking at an event hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, pushed back against the threats, as reported by The Associated Press, stating, Americans "are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive." The prime minister reiterated Canada's readiness to retaliate, as it did during a similar trade dispute in 2018.
The Canadian leader described working with Trump as "a little more challenging" this time, noting that Trump's administration appears more focused on specific trade objectives than during his initial term in 2016. However, Trudeau struck a diplomatic tone, emphasizing the importance of maintaining productive discussions.
The tensions come just days after the two leaders met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Both sides characterized the meeting as productive, with discussions reportedly covering trade, the fentanyl crisis, and immigration. he had an "excellent" conversation with Trump, Trudeau told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, though he declined to take further questions.
Despite the diplomatic undertones, Trump's comments have sparked controversy on both sides of the border. Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded lightheartedly to Trump's "51st state" suggestion, joking on Fox News, "I guess he's still upset that, you know, in 1812, we burnt down your White House, and he's holding a grudge after 212 years."
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders seized the opportunity to criticize the American healthcare system in comparison to Canada's. "Does that mean that we can adopt the Canadian health care system and guarantee health care to all, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and spend 50% less per capita on health care?" Sanders quipped on X (formerly Twitter).
Economists have warned of potential fallout from Trump's proposed tariffs, which would not only impact Canada but also Mexico and China-three of America's largest trading partners. Trump brushed off these concerns, stating during his NBC interview, "I can't guarantee anything. But if you look at my pre-COVID economy, we had the greatest economy in the history of our country."
While the rhetoric has drawn attention, it also underscores the challenges ahead for the U.S.-Canada trade relationship. Trudeau has signaled that Canada is prepared to respond decisively to any new tariffs, as it did during previous trade disputes under Trump's leadership.
