Trump Says he Prefers Liberals, Lashes Out at Canada in Fox News Interview

In a now typically inflammatory interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on Canada’s federal election landscape, endorsing the Liberal Party while levelling a barrage of grievances against Canada’s trade practices and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

“I think it’s easier to deal actually with a Liberal, and maybe they’re going to win, but I don’t really care. It doesn’t matter to me at all,” Trump said, referencing the potential early federal election. The U.S. president took more time to aim at Poilievre, calling him “stupidly no friend of mine” and criticizing him for not befriending the Trump administration, but then adding “When he says negative things, I couldn’t care less.”

Trump also repeated his long-standing, false claims of a trade imbalance with Canada, accusing the country of “cheating” under the current free trade framework—a framework he himself negotiated. He doubled down on his desire for Canada to become the 51st state and falsely claimed the U.S. subsidizes Canada by 200 billion annually.

Poilievre responded swiftly on social media, framing Trump’s non-endorsement as a badge of honour. “Mark Carney is weak and would cave to Trump’s demands,” Poilievre wrote, adding that a fourth Liberal term would “weaken our country and strengthen Donald Trump.” Speaking to reporters in Sudbury, Ont., Poilievre reiterated his criticism of Carney, accusing him of being unprepared to stand up to Trump.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney struck a more diplomatic tone. Speaking in Iqaluit, he emphasized the need for a “comprehensive” discussion with Trump on trade and sovereignty. “I want to grow good, high-paying jobs in Canada and reaffirm our sovereignty,” Carney said.