By Sama Marwan,
Donald Trump is fueling escalating political tensions in Canada, threatening the ouster of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This escalation reflects his aggressive strategy to secure significant gains for his second term, even before officially taking office.
Trump, who mockingly referred to Trudeau as the “Governor of the 51st American State,” has triggered a deep political crisis in Canada by threatening to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, heightening fears of a severe economic recession ahead of an election year.
An Internal Crisis Threatens Trudeau’s Government
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing unprecedented pressures, as the resignation of Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered a critical blow. In her resignation letter, Freeland criticized Trudeau’s policies, claiming they lack seriousness and expose Canada to significant risks in the face of Trump’s aggressive economic agenda.
“We must take the threat of tariffs very seriously. We need to preserve our resources to confront a potential tariff war,” Freeland stated, adding that Canada must avoid “costly political gimmicks” that jeopardize national stability.
With Trudeau’s Liberal government trailing significantly behind the opposition Conservatives, speculation is mounting about his potential resignation or the fall of his minority government through a vote of no confidence, potentially triggering early elections.
Trump Pressures for Gains
For Trump, these political upheavals play to his advantage. He successfully sidelined Freeland, who had clashed with him during prior trade negotiations, and weakened Trudeau, whom his team views as a weak, overly progressive leader.
Trump described Freeland’s resignation on his platform, Truth Social, as “toxic behavior” and claimed she would not be missed.
Impact on Trade Relations
Trump views trade as a zero-sum game. His pressure has pushed Trudeau’s government to promise hundreds of millions of dollars for enhanced border control, even as political divisions within Canada deepen over how to address these threats.
Experts warn that a trade war between the two countries could harm both sides, given their deeply interconnected supply chains, particularly in industries like automobile manufacturing, where components cross the border multiple times before final assembly.
Potential Global Repercussions
While Trump’s current policies target Canada and Mexico, they are expected to expand to Europe and other nations, such as France and Germany. Trump may exploit internal divisions in these countries to enforce his trade policies, potentially reshaping international relations significantly during his second term.
The world watches Trump’s next moves, while Canada faces the immediate consequences of his antagonistic policies—an early warning for other U.S. allies.
