How many weeks, or months, will the prime minister-designate, Mark Carney, be facing off with U.S. President Donald Trump in our current trade war? And how much damage could Carney do to Canada during this time? Does he know how to handle the whims of Trump’s ego-driven relationships with world leaders?
Trump is a man who surrounds himself with sycophants, expecting those around him to behave as sycophants, whether they mean it or not. If one needs something from Trump, one plays the part.
But last week, soon-to-be former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the final days of his widely-detested reign and in the infancy of a trade war that will hurt Canada far more than it could ever hurt the U.S., essentially told Trump — addressing him informally as “Donald” — that he’s been very dumb.
In a news conference about U.S. tariffs, Trudeau smirked and pontificated: “Now, it’s not in my habit to agree with the Wall Street Journal, but Donald: they point out that even though you’re a very smart guy — this is a very dumb thing to do.”
Trump was, already, the proverbial bull in the china shop of international affairs. And costume-loving Trudeau waltzed in dressed as a Matador. “Dumb,” in this situation, was an adjective solely reserved for Trudeau.
“We’re gonna choose to not go on vacation in Florida, or Old Orchard Beach, or wherever. We’re gonna choose to try to buy Canadian products and forego bourbon and other classic American products. And yeah, we’re probably gonna keep booing the American anthem,” said Trudeau.
I assume Trudeau was overtaken by a desire to end his rule on some sort of relative high, by reveling in the nouveau nationalism that was, in no small part, born of his mismanagement as Canada’s leader. So, not only has he committed the most egregious faux pas one could possibly commit against Trump — attacking the president’s ego — but Trudeau did so while unironically participating in a social movement that very well might exist because of his incompetence and unpopularity.
It was tacky and unbecoming to encourage Canadians to boo any country’s national anthem at sports games. Trudeau is, apparently, as talented at sports diplomacy as he is at negotiating with President Trump.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, in the days after Trudeau’s “dumb” invective. In consecutive posts, he announced his respect for, and tariff concessions to, Mexican President Sheinbaum, but said that Trudeau had done a “terrible job” and, regarding the spectacle of Trudeau’s leadership, he said it was “(s)o much fun to watch!”
Canada is now facing threats of additional and “reciprocal” tariffs on dairy and lumber.
Trump has also taken issue with Conservative leader — and likely future prime minister — Pierre Poilievre, complaining to other media that Poilievre is not providing his preferred level of deference. “I don’t like what he’s saying about me. It’s just not positive about me,” said Trump. What Trump hasn’t shown Poilievre, however, is same the level of dismissive and condescending disrespect he has shown for “governor Trudeau.”
Trump may have been able to laugh and have fun watching Prime Minister Trudeau fumble through his final weeks — but Canadians certainly were not. Trump could hurt us, badly.
Trump is mercurial — something I say with a profound abundance of Canadian politeness. It’s fair to consider that Trump was willing to toss out our post-World War II world order, pulling support from Ukraine, in part, because he was so incensed by the “disrespect” Trump alleged he was shown by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. It’s, at least, something those negotiating with Trump must consider.
Our country desperately needs a negotiator who can pre-empt and temper Trump’s ego-driven caprice, and not — for god’s sake — suggest the man is “dumb.”
Carney, giving his first speech after winning the Liberal leadership race, already enlisted fighting words — via hokey hockey metaphors — for Trump. This is not a good sign. While we are seeing Canadians rally around their dislike of Trump, and it certainly plays well with Carney’s voter base for him to express snark and bombast towards the man, it’s not going to do Canadians any favours in negotiations.
What’s more important: Carney’s popularity, or the country’s economic future?
Poilievre has expressed concern that Carney is “using” Trump’s presidency for just that: a scintillating issue that will keep citizens distracted from the substance of Carney’s professional and political records. Putting aside the irony over Poilievre accusing others of sloganeering — which all politicians do, to a greater or lesser degree — Poilievre makes a good point. Why wouldn’t Carney’s primary motivation be his performance in an upcoming election?
For the good of our country, please, Carney, don’t be dumb with Trump.
National Post