President-elect Donald Trump referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “Governor” of the “Great State of Canada” in a playful jab amid ongoing discussions about tariffs and trade policies. Trump’s remarks, shared on Truth Social, follow Trudeau’s visit to Mar-a-Lago.
“It was a pleasure to meet with Governor Justin Trudeau,” Trump wrote. “Our talks on tariffs and trade will deliver spectacular results for everyone involved!”
The meeting focused on Trump’s proposed tariffs, which aim to address illegal drugs entering the U.S. and rework trade imbalances. Last year, 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the Canadian border, compared to over 21,000 pounds at the Mexican border. Canadian officials argue that lumping their challenges with Mexico’s is inappropriate.
Trudeau cautioned that the tariffs could raise costs for U.S. consumers, stating, “These tariffs won’t make life easier for Americans.” Despite disagreements, both leaders described their talks as productive.
Canada’s U.S. ambassador, Kristen Hillman, highlighted the close economic relationship, noting that 77% of Canadian exports go to the U.S. and $170 billion in energy products were sold to the U.S. last year. Hillman stressed that Canada’s smaller economy impacts trade metrics.
Trump’s humor continued with an A.I.-generated image of himself holding a Canadian flag captioned, “Oh, Canada!” Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc downplayed the remarks, calling them jokes that reflect friendly ties as Trump prepares for his second term.
