Fact Check: Did Trump have a heated exchange with Canada over cutting off electricity?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid tensions between the United States and Canada over President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50% tariff, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that Trump had a heated exchange with Canada over cutting off electricity. The claim has sparked concern, calling for a fact-check.
Claim: Trump had an argument against Canada's threat to cut off electricity
The rumor surfaced as a post on X, which claimed a heated exchange between Trump and a Canadian representative, wherein Trump slammed the country’s threat to cut down electricity supply.
“You can’t do that! You can’t cut electricity to 1.5 million American homes in Michigan, New York, and Minnesota,” Trump allegedly said.
“You started this. Your 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, steel, and $20 billion of our goods. You’re done,” Canada replied according to the post.
Trump then purportedly said, “You need us more! You need America more than we need you.”
Canada then stated, “Actually… we supply your high-grade nickel and refine your uranium. What would your factories and military do without it?” to which Trump allegedly hit back, saying, “This is outrageous.”
Fact Check: The claim originated as satire
Although Trump did warn Ontario Premier Doug Ford against cutting off all electricity and critical minerals to the US, if the tariff war worsens, there are no records of such an exchange between Trump and an unknown representative.
A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible reports about a meeting between Trump and a Canadian representative or a social media post where the exchange happened, which, if true, would have been widely covered by prominent news media outlets.
The exchange is fake and fabricated, as the account that made the post describes itself in the bio as ‘satire and exaggerated content creation.’
Donald Trump imposes 50% tariff on Canada
The claim surfaced after Trump, on July 20, imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that the neighboring country has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol, and dairy products.
"Each Section 338 proclamation imposes a 50% tariff on a different set of Canadian imports, covering products ranging from wine to hockey sticks to cement," reads a White House fact sheet.
"President Trump is taking action to hold Canada accountable for its continued discrimination against and unreasonable and unequal treatment of U.S. commerce that has burdened and disadvantaged hardworking Americans," it adds.
