Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to go toe-to-toe with President-elect Donald Trump over proposed tariffs—and let’s just say, it didn’t end well for him.
Trump, known for his no-nonsense style, announced last month that he plans to impose a hefty 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods unless both countries take decisive action to curb illegal drug trafficking and tighten border security. Trudeau, clearly rattled by the potential economic fallout, quickly flew to Mar-a-Lago in Florida for an urgent meeting with Trump, but the result was anything but a win for Canada.
The meeting, described as “cordial but direct” by insiders, reportedly became the backdrop for a slew of Trump’s trademark zingers. According to sources, Trump jokingly referred to Trudeau as the “Governor of Canada” both during the dinner and later in a post on Truth Social. “It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” Trump quipped.
President-elect Donald Trump mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—referring to him as a governor and Canada as a state—in a post on his Truth Social platform early on Tuesday, after Trudeau warned that a tariff war between the two countries would end up raising prices for Americans.
The banter didn’t stop there. In a heated exchange, Trump reportedly suggested that Canada could solve its problems by becoming the 51st state of the United States—a remark that allegedly left Trudeau squirming and the room nervously chuckling. Trump then pressed harder, questioning Canada’s ability to sustain its economy without its current trade advantages. “So your country can’t survive unless it’s ripping off the US to the tune of $100 billion?” he asked, hitting a nerve.
But Trudeau wasn’t ready to back down entirely. In a fiery speech to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, he vowed to “punch back” with retaliatory tariffs on American staples like bourbon, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and even Heinz ketchup. While his attempt to sound tough made headlines, social media users were quick to mock the Canadian leader’s strategy as desperate and weak compared to Trump’s bold, America-first approach.
Watch the video below to see Trudeau’s less-than-impressive response to Trump’s hardball tactics.
Video:
America stands ready to lead, and once again, Trump proves he’s the man for the job.
