Trump shares his brutal nickname for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
ArchiveFirst published March 8, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
President Donald Trump criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the U.S. imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods, including a 25% tax on imports and 10% on energy products. In response, Trudeau retaliated with tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. imports.
Trump used his Truth Social platform to attack Trudeau, calling him “Governor” instead of “Prime Minister,” a dig reflecting past comments about Canada becoming the 51st state. Trump wrote, “Please explain to Governor Trudeau… our reciprocal tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!”
Trudeau fired back, condemning the tariffs as reckless and declaring, “Today, the United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally.” He also rejected Trump’s claims about the U.S. intention to collapse Canada’s economy, stating, “We will never be the 51st state.”
Both countries dismissed Trump’s justification for the tariffs, linking them to the fentanyl crisis, as politically motivated. Meanwhile, China also imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, escalating trade tensions further.
