OTTAWA — Donald Trump, soon to reprise his role as the most powerful man on Earth, is now training his sights on (English) Canada’s greatest cultural insecurity — that we’re basically Americans.
And, in the Trudeau government, nobody seems to be outwardly mad about it.
Or they’re just not taking the bait.
That’s despite Trump using his MAGA echo chamber, the social media platform Truth Social, to taunt the Canadian prime minister just past midnight Tuesday morning.
“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” the incoming U.S. president posted, referring to the leaders’ tête-à-tête at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort compound in Florida.
“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!”
This follows Trump’s post that showed him standing tall next to a fluttering maple leaf flag, facing what appeared to be a rendition of the European Alps. Trump also suggested during a weekend interview on the American television network NBC that Canada and Mexico should become American states, because the U.S. runs trade deficits with both countries.
Such stuff is becoming standard fare for an American president who is belligerent towards international norms, threatening trade wars and mass deportations — a convicted criminal who allegedly instigated an attempt to overthrow a presidential election.
That “51st state” chirp also came up at the Mar-a-Lago meeting, something Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc — who attended with Trudeau — said later that he took as a good-humoured “joke.”
Such dismissals continued Tuesday as the Liberal government’s cabinet ministers assembled on Parliament Hill, leaders of a government that is lagging in the polls, unusually slow to disclose its fiscal standing, and unable to push through its agenda in Parliament because of a sustained Conservative opposition filibuster.
“I don’t take offence at jokes,” said Defence Minister Bill Blair of Trump’s latest comment.
Asked whether Trump’s quip was an insult to soldiers who have fought for Canada, Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor dodged.
“Once again, we’re going to focus on Canadians and making sure we work collaboratively with the president of the United States,” Petitpas Taylor said, before ignoring more questions and walking away.
Opposition MPs seemed similarly unfussed, if Tuesday’s Question Period was any sign. None mentioned how the next American president appears to be laughing about Canada’s lack of independence.
Other cabinet members, such as Health Minister Mark Holland, spoke about context and suggested it would be imprudent to jump at all statements during a “challenging” time on the international stage that requires “deep maturity.”
“We can’t react to everything,” Holland said, arguing the government must focus on Canadians’ interests.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, meanwhile, acknowledged the absurd flavour of the issue by noting that “it sounds like we’re living in an episode of ‘South Park’” — the satirical American television series that featured a storyline about a war between Canada and the United States.
“I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said.
The focus on Trump seemed to irk some in the government, notably Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who suggested to reporters they should ask the U.S. president-elect if they’re curious about how he casually dismissed Canada’s sovereignty.
“I truly am going to urge everyone who has questions to the president-elect to pose those to him,” Freeland said.
“We are so lucky to be Canadian. I am so proud of our country. I am so proud of the true north, strong and free, and I also want to say to Canadians that our government is absolutely determined to defend the national interest.”
That’s the likely and obvious reason for the restraint on Tuesday. Trump has threatened punishing 25 per cent tariffs on the hundreds of billions in dollars in exports that Canada sells into the U.S.
In response, the Liberal government has suggested it will respond in kind.
But clearly it is also being careful not to poke the elephant down south — even if that means turning a cheek when he teases Canada for being smaller, less powerful, and dependent on U.S. trade.
And maybe that’s working out. As Premier Doug Ford suggested Tuesday, having Trudeau in Trump’s brain — especially so late at night — might actually be a positive sign.
“I’m sure not thinking of Justin Trudeau at midnight,” Ford said, “so if he’s thinking of Justin at midnight, it’s probably a good relationship.”
With files from Ryan Tumilty, Robert Benzie and Mark Ramzy
