Fact Check: Did Canada expel US ambassador Pete Hoekstra?

WASHINGTON, DC: A claim circulating widely on social media in January 2026 sparked intense discussion which said diplomatic ties between Canada and the United States have collapsed with the expulsion of US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra. 

But is this claim legitimate, or is there more to the story? Let’s find out the truth below.

Claim: Canada expelled US ambassador Pete Hoekstra 

A YouTube video from January 1, 2026, which has over 100,000 views with the caption, 'Tensions surged after Trump’s ambassador was expelled from Canada, triggering a sharp diplomatic fallout. Officials on both sides are trading accusations, raising concerns about worsening US–Canada relations, stalled cooperation, and broader geopolitical consequences,' features American lawyer George Conway allegedly saying, "What we're witnessing is nothing short of a diplomatic meltdown between the United States and Canada." 

In the 22.50-minute video, the speaker talks about the economic consequences of US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra being kicked out of Canada. 

The video starts with Conway saying, "Break the news from Ottawa and what we're witnessing is nothing short of a full-blown diplomatic meltdown between the United States and Canada in the next 20 minutes I'm going to walk you through exactly how Trump's handpicked ambassador to Canada has systematically destroyed one of America's most critical relationships who's paying the price and why experts are warning this could trigger economic devastation on both sides of the border"

These claims have also been shared across Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and various articles.

Fact Check: False, video is AI-generated

Despite the viral nature of these claims, the report that US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has been expelled from Canada is entirely false. 

Most notably, the official US Embassy & Consulates in Canada website continues to show Hoekstra as the active ambassador, with no record of any such dismissal.

Given the massive weight of a claim involving a 'diplomatic meltdown' between two of the world’s largest trading partners, such an event would be a global breaking news story. 

However, none of the credible media outlets have reported anything about it. 

While real trade tensions have existed over the past year, official government channels and reputable journalists confirm that diplomatic ties remain intact and the ambassador is still in his post.

Tense relations fuel online misinformation

The fake news about the Ambassador’s expulsion didn't appear out of thin air as it took advantage of real political friction. 

In late 2025, President Donald Trump stopped talks meant to fix economic issues after Ontario Premier Doug Ford ran an anti-tariff commercial during the World Series. 

This sparked a real-world dispute, with reports even surfacing that Hoekstra had used foul language during a heated argument with a Canadian trade official.

Because the relationship between the two nations has been so rocky lately, it has become easy for AI slop channels to create believable lies.