A past photo of U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (AP)
U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of using the ongoing trade dispute to stay in power. Trump shared his thoughts after a phone call with Trudeau on Wednesday, calling it "somewhat friendly."
Trump posted on social media that Trudeau "was unable to tell me when the Canadian election is taking place, which made me curious, like, what's going on here? I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power."
Canada Challenges U.S. Tariffs
Canada recently filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the new U.S. tariffs. Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, further increasing tensions between the two countries.
Trudeau had announced his resignation in January and is expected to step down after his party elects a new leader this weekend. The new leader will become Prime Minister and can decide when the next federal election will take place. The election must be held by October, but experts suggest it could happen earlier.
In Canada, the Prime Minister has the power to call elections at any point within the five-year term. Since Trump returned to the White House in January, his relationship with Trudeau has been strained, particularly over trade policies and fentanyl trafficking.
Trudeau Calls Tariffs a “Dumb Move”
On Tuesday, Trudeau expressed frustration over Trump’s decision to impose tariffs. While he acknowledged Trump as a "smart guy," he criticized the tariffs as a "very dumb thing to do."
Trudeau also accused Trump of deliberately harming Canada’s economy to make it easier for the U.S. to take control. Trump has previously suggested making Canada the 51st state of the U.S. He has often referred to Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau” instead of Prime Minister, mocking the idea of Canada as an independent country.
Trump’s decision to impose tariffs has sparked strong reactions in Canada, with officials and business leaders warning of economic harm. Meanwhile, political analysts are watching closely to see how this trade battle will affect the upcoming leadership transition in Canada.
