U.S. President Donald Trump has shared his thoughts on the current political situation in Canada as the Liberal leadership race nears its end, and could soon be followed by a federal election.
In an interview with The Spectator World magazine at the White House on Feb. 27, Trump said he’s not a fan of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre because he’s “not a MAGA guy” and reiterated his dislike of former cabinet minister and Liberal leadership contender Chrystia Freeland.
Freeland criticized Trump during the Liberal leadership debates this week, saying he poses the greatest threat to Canada since World War II, and “wants to redraw our borders.” Freeland also said Canada should forge a pact with European allies including nuclear powers France and the United Kingdom because Trump is “predatory.”
When asked about those comments, Trump responded that Freeland is “whack,” “terrible,” and that he knows her “very well.” Freeland was foreign affairs minister when Canada and the United States renegotiated the NAFTA trade deal during Trump’s first term.
“She’s absolutely terrible for the country,” Trump said. “She’s incompetent in many respects and can only cause ill will for Canada.”
Trump also took credit for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to strip Freeland of the finance portfolio, while referring to him as “Governor Trudeau” in an ongoing reference to making Canada part of the United States.
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In response to the comments, Freeland said on social media on Feb. 28 that the reason Trump called her “whack” and complained about her negotiating skills is because he recognizes she doesn’t “back down.”
“I’m ready to fight for Canada—and win,” she said.
Trudeau had gone to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Nov. 29, 2024, without then-Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Freeland, to discuss Trump’s first threat issued on Nov. 25 to impose broad tariffs on Canada over border security concerns.
Three weeks later, Freeland resigned from cabinet just before she was about to deliver the Fall Economic Statement. In her letter of resignation made public, she said that Trudeau had told her a few days earlier she would be taken off the finance portfolio after she delivered the mini-budget update.
Freeland’s resignation led to mounting internal pressure for Trudeau to step down, which he announced he would do in early January, after a new leader was chosen by Liberal Party members.
Four Liberal candidates are now vying to replace Trudeau and face Poilievre in a political environment that has significantly changed since November, with Trump’s multiple tariff threats and his comments about wanting to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
The pressure coming from the southern neighbour has led to politicians of all stripes seeking to position themselves as the strongest defenders of Canada.
Trump on Poilievre
Spectator reporter Ben Domenech remarked to Trump that the Tories have been losing ground in the polls because of the comments he made that have been leveraged by the Liberals, in apparent reference to Trump’s ‘51st state’ rhetoric. Asked if he believes Conservatives will still manage to win the next election, Trump said Poilievre’s “biggest problem is he’s not a MAGA guy.”
“I mean, he’s really not he’s not a Trump guy at all,” he said, adding that “they all make that mistake.”
“They think they’re going to be the tough guy and they’re going to knock out Trump, and they end up getting the hell beat out of ’em. So I don’t know. I mean, I can’t tell you, Pierre. I just don’t know. I don’t like what he’s saying about me. It’s just not positive about me.”
Poilievre has been using the motto “Canada First” in his campaign ahead of the next federal election, and has rejected Trump’s idea of making Canada the 51st state. He has called Trump’s plan to impose tariffs “unjust and unjustified” while promising to retaliate in kind.
“Mr. President, it is true. I am not MAGA,” Poilievre responded to Trump in a social media post on Feb. 28. “I am for Canada First. Always. Canada has always been America’s best friend & ally. But we will NEVER be the 51st state.”
Canada is currently facing three sets of Trump tariffs, with the border security-related tariffs set to kick-in on March 4 if no deal is reached. The next key date is March 9 when the Liberal Party will announce its new leader, who will then be appointed prime minister.
