One of the world’s most durable and amicable alliances is broken. Canadians are absorbing U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and his threats to make Canada the 51st state.

Canadians are feeling an undeniable sense of betrayal after Trump declared a trade war against America’s northern neighbor and longtime ally. Trump keeps threatening Canada’s sovereignty and and vowing to put sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian products, though Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday afternoon the tariffs will be postponed by at least 30 days after he promised more cooperation on the border.

In Canada, discussion and disapproval are everywhere. Canadian hockey fans have even been booing the American national anthem at recent National Hockey League games. Addressing the nation this past weekend, Trudeau channeled the betrayal that many Canadians are feeling, reminding Americans that Canadian troops fought alongside them in Afghanistan and helped respond to myriad crises from wildfires in California to Hurricane Katrina. “We were always there standing with you, grieving with you, the American people,” he said.

The Canadian jitters, some worry, could go beyond the moment. “The damage is going to be long-lasting,” said Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto. “The Americans won’t be trusted anymore. The 51st state stuff is just contemptuous. It treats Canada like we don’t even exist.”

MBFC
Archive

  • wise_pancake@lemmy.ca
    511·
    16 hours ago

    I’m pretty sure Canada exists because in two wars the Americans couldn’t take and hold it.

    I think you’ll find that Canadians are good friends and fierce enemies. We’d rather go without and rebuild our economy from scratch than lose our sovereignty and country.

    I don’t think Canada needs you as much as you think, I think that got really clear this weekend when the entire country organized quickly and Trump backed off.

    • Majorllama@lemmy.world
      155·
      16 hours ago

      Must be nice living in that alternate reality you’ve fabricated in your mind.

      America lost 0 wars to Canada (not that any of that matters for this current conversation about the world of 2025). There was a stalemate, but if you wanna count that as a win for Canada you go right ahead man.

      I do think Canada could survive if they went cold turkey on American goods and services. It would SUCK for y’all for a while, but I think you could do it. You would probably spend a ton of money and time expanding your exporting capabilities to go more global, but why bother when you can sell to your neighbors with way less effort and overhead?

      All you gotta do is keep a better eye on the border. Doesn’t seem like a crazy request given the large upsides for your country.

      • wise_pancake@lemmy.ca
        24·
        16 hours ago

        but why bother when you can sell to your neighbors with way less effort and overhead?

        That’s generally my point as well. Except this time Trump’s been going on for over a month saying he should annex us and then doing bullshit like trying to make this trade impossible.

        Also three days ago Trump said there was nothing canada could do. He’s a terrible business partner not worth appeasing.

        • Majorllama@lemmy.world
          126·
          15 hours ago

          Oh I don’t disagree. Trump is a fucking moron and it probably would have been in your best interest to ignore him entirely, but you didn’t so here we are.