Trump warns Canada of 'worse than anything' for its politicians

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump warned Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, that making him “the enemy” could bring severe political consequences.

Trump said the warning would become especially relevant if Canada’s economy collapsed, claiming it would be “worse than anything that has ever happened” to a Canadian politician.

The president made the remarks in a Thursday, September 3, Truth Social post, one day after describing Canada as tougher to deal with than China or Vietnam.

Trump warns Mark Carney over his political stance

Trump wrote that it was “very good for Canadian Politicians like Prime Minister Carney to make President Donald J Trump ‘the enemy,’” but said that position could become politically damaging if Canada’s economy collapsed.

“Then it will prove to be very bad for Politics — Worse than anything that has ever happened to a Canadian Politician,” Trump wrote. “Just watch!”

The post did not specify what action by Carney prompted the warning. 

Trump has separately used his disputes with Canada to argue that the United States has been disadvantaged in its relationship with its northern neighbor.

A day earlier, while answering reporters’ questions at the White House during a meeting with travel executives, Trump said people asked him which country was the toughest for him to deal with.

He said people had asked whether China or Vietnam was the answer before giving a different response.

“Who’s the toughest one to deal with? Is it China, sir? Is it China? Is it Vietnam?” Trump recalled people asking. “No, actually, it’s Canada,” he replied.

Trump said Canadian leaders had become “emboldened” and criticized previous Canadian governments, saying, “They had presidents that didn’t know what was happening. Not only the last one, all of them.”

President points to Gulfstream dispute

Trump cited a dispute involving Gulfstream as an example of what he described as unfair treatment of an American business.

He said a friend trying to buy a Gulfstream jet told him Canada would not certify the aircraft, while Canadian competitor Bombardier could operate in the US market.

Trump said the certification issue had lasted about nine years. 

According to his account, a Gulfstream executive told him, “Sir, I’ve spent $60 million trying to get certified in Canada. I can’t get certified in Canada. They won’t do it.”

Trump said he threatened tariffs on Bombardier and other Canadian products until Gulfstream received certification.

“They got certified in two hours,” Trump said, adding that the Canadian prime minister later called and asked, “What seems to be the problem?”

Trump said he explained that the problem was the lengthy certification delay and argued that Canadian restrictions were unfair because Bombardier could sell in the United States.

Trump broadens criticism of Canada

Trump expanded his criticism beyond the aircraft dispute, saying the United States had lost between $60 billion and $100 billion with Canada and that the country had taken advantage of the US for years.

He also said Canada “took 20% of our car industry out” and argued that tariffs could have discouraged companies from moving production across the border.

Trump said he wanted more vehicles produced in Detroit, South Carolina, and Tennessee, while rejecting the idea that the United States depends on Canadian goods to the same degree that Canada depends on access to the American market.

“They need us; we don’t need them,” Trump said. “They’ve taken advantage of us for years, and it’s time to stop.”

Trump also said the United States could stop doing business with Canada if the trade imbalance continued, while arguing tariffs could pressure Canadian industries.

His comments came as reporters asked about renewed US-Canada trade talks and whether Canadian tourism to the United States had declined. 

Trump did not say whether new talks were planned.