There are at least two things that every American knows about Canada. “Canadian” bacon, which is not. And Justin Trudeau.
Published at 6:00 a.m.
We have no idea to what extent our suspended Prime Minister has become, south of the border, the absolute symbol of the most caricatured “wokism”.
In a Baptist church in Arizona, in a restaurant in Kentucky or at a NASCAR race in Virginia, what people told me about Justin was spectacular. Even when we know almost nothing about this somewhat vague and cold country in the North.
Among American conservatives, even moderate ones, Trudeau is seen as a radical socialist, promoting the most extreme versions of political correctness.
American right-wing media have done much to construct the image of the socialist “dictator,” particularly during COVID-19 and the generally stricter health measures in Canada – although very similar to those in several American states.
Well before that, a widespread conspiracy theory held that Trudeau was the illegitimate son of Fidel Castro. The false rumor circulated enough that the Associated Press deemed it necessary to deny it. Yes, Margaret Trudeau visited Cuba, but four years after the birth of her eldest child.
PHOTO FILE, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Margaret Trudeau and former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, with the Maximum LeaderFidel Castro (right), during the couple’s visit to Cuba, in 1976
Obviously, this disinformation campaign had a political objective. Trudeau the father, seen as a dangerous leftist by Nixon, had cordial relations with the Maximus Leader. Justin had relatively laudatory words when the revolutionary died in 2016. Making Trudeau Jr. a sort of woke Castro was too tempting.
Its American image is not based solely on false information, that said. Justin Trudeau very quickly positioned himself against Donald Trump’s policies no 1 on immigration, sending a message of maximum open borders on social networks. The Canadian government officially condemned the United States Supreme Court’s decision overturning the right to abortion in 2022. In 2023, Canadian authorities issued a “2ELGBTQI+” Canadian travel warning following legislation in some states . He himself has often declared himself a feminist, something almost unthinkable among American politicians.
On the “hard” right, we are not satisfied with criticism of wokism. Trudeau is described as an Antichrist.
I remember this crazy video about Canada, broadcast in a small church in the suburbs of Tucson, Arizona. It was essentially based on speeches by Tucker Carlson, former Fox host and great propagator of disinformation. We saw churches burning in Canada, a place of danger for Christians, all tolerated or encouraged by the Trudeau government.
This is the backdrop against which Trump’s publications on the “annexation” of Canada such as “51e État ».
We know he is very unpopular in Canada.
On Monday, after the announcement of the resignation of the prime minister of the United States’ closest ally, here is what Trump wrote on Truth Social:
“Many people in Canada LOVE being number 51e State. The United States can no longer endure the huge trade deficit and subsidies that Canada needs to keep up. Justin Trudeau knew it, and he resigned. If Canada merged with the United States, there would be no tariffs, taxes would go down and they would be TOTALLY SAFE from the Russian and Chinese ships constantly circling them. Together, what a great country it would be! »
It must be repeated, even if the hypothesis is politically absurd: if, through impossibility, Canada wanted to become a state, the Republicans would never let that happen.
With 40 million citizens, Canada would become the most populous American state. More to the left than California (39 million), this fantasy state would ensure a majority for Democrats for a generation.
The idea may be crazy, but Trump hammers it home in a tone that is no longer humorous at all.
Why then?
To intimidate. To place oneself in a position of domination. Unlike 2016, when Trudeau was newly elected and relatively popular, this time the Canadian Prime Minister is at his lowest. Does he really want to “own” Canada? It’s not important. What matters to him is to take advantage of the moment to humiliate Trudeau as much as possible, and take ownership of his resignation.
“He knew it, he resigned…”
Everything is coming at the right time for the next American president. The Canadian government is on the verge of defeat. The prime minister is stripped of all authority, awaiting replacement.
We must therefore expect rapid and very aggressive actions from the new administration. Trump will not wait for power to be strengthened in Ottawa to demand concessions, commitments, and… political flattening.
