Fact Check: Did Canadians blame Trump for country’s economic performance?

WASHINGTON, DC: As concerns over inflation and affordability continue to dominate public debate in Canada, a viral image circulating online claimed that most Canadians blame President Donald Trump for the country’s economic performance. The image appears to show a headline from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), quickly sparking political reactions and online discussion. But is the headline authentic? Let's fact check and examine the claim.

Claim: New poll says 89 per cent of Canadians blame Trump for its economy

An X post by WallStreetMav argued that Donald Trump is not responsible for improving Canada’s economy. Instead, the post stated that Trump should focus on securing the best trade deals for the United States and ensuring that NATO members pay their fair share of defense costs.

The post stated, “It is not Trump’s job to improve the Canadian economy.” It further added, “Trump’s job is to get the best trade deals for the USA and force the deadbeats of NATO to pay for their own defense costs."

The post included a screenshot labeled “CBC News” with the headline, “New Poll: 89 per cent of Canadians say Donald Trump is to blame for Canada’s economy.” The screenshot further carried the byline: “Survey finds widespread agreement despite respondents unable to explain the connection. Majority cite rising costs and housing as top personal concerns."

Commenters on the thread largely blamed Canada’s economic challenges on long-term Liberal government policies, high taxes, and alleged mismanagement. Many users also argued that the poll image reflected state-influenced media narratives rather than economic reality.

Fact Check: The claim blaming Trump for Canada’s economy originated from satire account

The purported report claiming that most Canadians blame Donald Trump for the country’s economy is fabricated. A satire account posing as a news outlet first shared the claim online.

 Since Trump returned to office in 2025, Canada has increasingly distanced itself from its longtime ally after the US president imposed tariffs and made remarks criticizing Canadian sovereignty. The strained relationship between the two countries has also fueled the spread of several false claims online.

The headline claiming that most Canadians blame Trump for the economy is similarly false. Reverse image searches showed that an X account with the handle “@SatireSquadHQ” originally posted the image on April 20.

Although the account presents itself as “The Official Record,” it is known for publishing fake and satirical content. Keyword searches also found no matching headline on CBC’s official website.

 In April 2026, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem stated that inflation linked to the war in the Middle East could push the central bank to raise interest rates. Although Canada’s interest rate remained unchanged in April, many Canadians reported reducing their spending to cope with rising living costs.

In May, researchers at the University of Toronto analyzed cellphone data and reported a 42 per cent decline in Canadian travel to major US metropolitan areas.