Poilievre says Canada will never be '51st state' on U.S. media tour

The trip marked the second time the Conservative leader has travelled to the U.S. this year as part of what his office characterizes as an effort to champion free trade to American audiences, in the face of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Appearing on Fox Business with host Larry Kudlow, Poilievre was introduced with a snippet from a 2023 interview that went viral, in which the Conservative leader, then riding high in the polls, swatted away questions from a local reporter about his perceived Trump-like qualities.

Asked to reflect on what happened in the wake of Trump’s rhetoric against Canada and last year’s election loss, Poilievre responded: “We’re never going to be the 51st state, but we are America’s best friend in the world.”

He recalled the efforts Canada made after the Sept. 11 attacks, accepting 224 flights diverted away from the U.S., and sending some 40,000 soldiers to fight alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan “to avenge the Taliban’s attack on our friends here in New York City and in Washington.”

“The reality is that we would be stronger trading freely together — richer, freer, safer, and much more affordable if we could knock down the tariffs going in both directions, and that’s what I’m here to fight for.”

Poilievre, like on his earlier trip to New York City and Texas, declined to offer any criticisms of Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Back in Canada, however, he has called on Carney to release the terms of the recent failed trade deal with the U.S., and to recall Parliament to debate the details of its counter-tariffs package, warning that it must minimize the costs on Canadians relying on purchasing American products. 

Speaking on Thursday, Poilievre also confirmed to Fox Business that he plans to stand for reelection against the Liberals. 

Asked whether he would win the next time around, Poilievre simply said “that’s the plan.”

“But right now I’m the leader of the Opposition. But when we’re on foreign soil, we’ve all put our country first.”

Speaking earlier in the day to CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Poilievre called for a return to “tariff-free trade” after the U.S. announced a plan to impose bans on Canadian motorcycles, wine as well as certain dairy and other products, in response to Canada retaliating with measures against new 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on $28 billion worth of goods. 

Leading to that escalation was the dramatic collapse in trade talks. Carney has said he walked away from that deal over concessions the U.S. was pushing for and disagreements over auto tariffs, while Trump and other officials have laid the blame on Canada. 

“Look, I’m not going to attack my prime minister on foreign soil — just not something I’m going to do,” Poilievre said, adding with a laugh that “you can look up debates in the House of Commons.

“Let’s be honest, the administration hit us with tariffs first and everything escalated thereafter and my mission here is to fight for my country, not to score political points domestically. Politics ends at the border.”

Poilievre told CNBC that he believes Canada must “leverage the single biggest asset Canada has in the U.S., which is our friendship with the American people, who overwhelmingly love Canada.”

The Conservative leader says both Canada and the U.S. have their own trade grievances, pointing to protectionist American policies. 

When it comes to how he believes Canadians feel towards Americans, Poilievre said, “Look, I think we feel a little bit wounded.”

“We’re kind of confused as to how it is suddenly that Canada ended up in the crosshairs.”