U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of leveraging the ongoing trade conflict to maintain his hold on power. The allegation came after a telephonic conversation between the two leaders regarding trade tariffs and border security issues.
Trump shared details of the call on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that Trudeau was unable to provide a clear answer regarding the timing of the next Canadian election. “He 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,” Trump posted.
During the conversation, Trump emphasized concerns over the trafficking of fentanyl into the U.S., which he claimed continues to flow through the borders of Canada and Mexico. “Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs. I told him that many people have died from fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped,” Trump wrote.
Trump added that he blamed Trudeau’s “weak border policies” for the influx of fentanyl and illegal immigration into the U.S. “For anyone who is interested, I also told Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada that he largely caused the problems we have with them because of his Weak Border Policies, which allowed tremendous amounts of fentanyl, and illegal aliens, to pour into the United States. These policies are responsible for the death of many people!” he asserted.
Despite the pointed remarks, Trump mentioned that the conversation ended on a “somewhat friendly” note.
According to CNN, the Trump administration’s blanket 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, while tariffs on all Chinese imports were doubled from 10% to 20%. Both Canada and China have retaliated with tariffs on American goods, escalating concerns about a broader trade war.
However, in a partial relief measure, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. has granted a one-month exemption on auto tariffs for Mexico and Canada.
The trade dispute continues to generate tension, with economic repercussions expected for all involved nations.