'Just the way he is': Here's what some Americans in Canada think of Trump's new threats
Canada is home to more than a million Americans. Some say this is just Trump's style of doing things
Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy in Canada since his election victory, particularly with his threats to impose heavy tariffs on Canadian goods and comments about the country potentially becoming "the 51st state."
While his remarks have caused concern and anger among Canadians, responses from Americans living, studying, or working in Canada have varied, often depending on how they voted in the presidential election.
Jacob Wesoky, the executive vice chair of Democrats Abroad Canada and a political science student at McGill University in Montreal, expressed strong disappointment in Trump's approach to Canada, calling it "extremely" disheartening. "As an American living in Canada, it is really sad to watch," said Wesoky, who voted for Trump's opponent Kamala Harris.
On the other hand, Georganne Burke, a Canadian-American Trump supporter, argued that while the president-elect may be "a bit of a troll," she doesn't see his actions as harmful to Canada. "He's not asking for anything unreasonable," she said.
Trump's first direct threat to Canada came in November, when he announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports unless both countries improve border security with the U.S. After meeting with outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida to discuss the tariff threat, Trump began speculating about Canada becoming the next U.S. state, humorously calling Trudeau the "governor" of the "great state of Canada" in social media posts.
Following Trudeau's announcement that he would step down after the election of a new Liberal leader, Trump continued his remarks, claiming that "many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st state." The situation escalated when Trump suggested using "economic force" to absorb Canada into the U.S., reiterating his tariff proposal in a Florida press conference. Trudeau responded, saying there "isn't a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada would join the U.S.
Some Americans living in Canada, including Republicans who voted for Trump, have downplayed the situation, assuring Canadians that there is no need to worry about his presidency. Burke, for example, explained that Trump "isn't anti-Canada" but is concerned about border security and Canada's failure to meet NATO's military spending targets. "He's saying: you know what, time's up, the U.S. is not going to be the ATM anymore for anybody, not Canada, not anybody else," she said.
Burke also suggested that Canada's recent pledge to invest $1.3 billion in strengthening border security might lead Trump to delay his tariff threat until after Trudeau’s departure, when the new Canadian government could negotiate terms.
Renna Bassal, a long-time Trump supporter who moved to Canada five decades ago, said that Trump's comments about annexing Canada were likely intended as a joke aimed at disrespecting and taunting Trudeau, not as an attack on Canada itself. "I’m hoping this will be one of those instances where he’s not going to follow through on [tariffs]," she said, expressing optimism about the future of U.S.-Canada relations.
Wesoky, however, warned that Trump's tariff plan could hurt both the U.S. and Canadian economies. "This rhetoric, which goes against a relationship built on trust and respect, is not only dangerous but will be detrimental to the U.S. economy," he said. He added that any concerns about Canadian border security should be handled through negotiation rather than threats.
While Ottawa had largely responded to Trump's remarks with a measured approach, international relations expert Mark R. Brawley suggested that Canada could target specific U.S. congressional districts with reciprocal tariffs to generate opposition to Trump's actions from senators and representatives. Brawley, a McGill University professor who became a Canadian citizen after living in the country for 35 years, emphasized that Trump often uses provocative statements to gain an advantage in negotiations. "He thinks he’s throwing them off balance and that gives him some kind of an edge," Brawley said.
Brawley also pointed out that Trump tends to exaggerate issues to later take credit for resolving them, noting that the idea of Canada becoming a U.S. state was preposterous. "It's just his style of doing things, so I wouldn’t take it too seriously," he concluded.
