ALBAWABA—On Tuesday, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump took a swipe at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, mocking him as the "Governor of Canada" after Trudeau warned that imposing higher tariffs on Canadian goods would hurt American consumers.
In a post on "Truth Social," Trump sarcastically remarked, "It was a pleasure having dinner with the Governor of the great state of Canada, Justin Trudeau," adding that he looked forward to further discussions on trade and tariffs.
The comments followed Trudeau's speech at a Halifax Chamber of Commerce event, where he criticized Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, saying they would "significantly raise living costs" in the U.S. while being "devastating" for Canada.
Trudeau vowed that his government would counter any "unfair tariffs" similar to those imposed during Trump's first presidency.
In a lighter moment during their recent meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump reportedly suggested that Canada could become the U.S.'s 51st state if the tariffs proved economically damaging.
He joked that Trudeau could serve as its "Governor," though he acknowledged that "Prime Minister" might sound better.
The exchange highlights tensions as Trump doubles down on protectionist trade policies, signaling potential challenges in U.S.-Canada relations.
