VOTE: Who's right in the war of words between the U.S. and Canada?
No two nations are closer together politically, economically and militarily than the U.S. and Canada.
Over the past 150 years, the two sides have relied on each other and stood united through thick and thin. During the Second World War, the U.S. joined Canada and the Allied forces to defeat the Axis powers. When 9/11 happened, Gander, N.L., opened its doors to thousands of strangers, many of them Americans. While hunting down Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, Canadian troops fought alongside U.S. soldiers.
But for the first time in recent memory, the U.S. and Canada appear to be straying away from their long-held friendship.
On Saturday, in response to U.S. sanctions on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadians “will not be pushed around” and the imports were “kind of insulting.” This triggered a fiery response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak” on the same day.
PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, “US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he “will not be pushed around.” Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2018
Trump aides slammed Trudeau on U.S. Sunday talk shows. U.S. adviser Peter Navarro said there is a “special place in hell” for foreign leaders like Trudeau, which he has since apologized for. U.S. economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Trudeau “kind of stabbed us in the back” with his comments.
“Canada does not believe that ad hominem attacks are a particularly appropriate or useful way to conduct our relations with other countries,” Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland responded. Other world leaders, including U.S. politicians such as John McCain, were quick to dismiss the attacks from the Trump administration.
“That’s going to cost a lot of money for the people of Canada,” Trump told reporters Tuesday in Singapore.
With NAFTA negotiations on uncertain ground, who should be responsible for toning down the fiery rhetoric between these two countries? Let us know what you think by voting in the poll above and sharing your thoughts in the comment section below.
