Donald Trump’s second administration has been filled with some of his most loyal supporters, and many people in high office have been critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and security at the Canadian border.
One expert says there are not many Canadian allies yet in the president-elect’s court.
“I don’t see a lot of Canada’s friends there,” said Finn Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa and co-chair of the Expert Group on Canada-US Relations.
As the Republican leader begins to make critical decisions about his administration, foreign policy appointments and border posts have sent signals to Canada and the rest of the world about America’s path forward.
In his election campaign, Trump relied on imposing a comprehensive tariff on imports of 10% as a minimum. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report indicates that this would shrink the Canadian economy, resulting in economic costs of about $30 billion annually.
The president-elect has also criticized providing assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, and has attacked the United Nations, both of which Canada’s Liberal government strongly supports.
Trump appointed Mike Waltz to be national security adviser amid growing geopolitical instability, saying in a statement Tuesday that Waltz “will be a tremendous champion in our quest for peace through strength!”
Waltz, a three-term Florida congressman, has repeatedly criticized Trudeau on social media, particularly over his handling of China-related issues.
He also recently commented on the looming Canadian election, posting on X that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will “send Trudeau packing in 2025” and “start pulling Canada out of its progressive mess.”
Like Trump, Waltz has criticized NATO members who are not meeting defense spending targets — something Canada has not done, and will not do, for years.
Trudeau promised to achieve the goal of spending the equivalent of 2% of GDP on defense by 2032.
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Immigration and border security were a major focus for Republicans during the election, and many key appointees have their eyes set on the North.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a vocal critic of China, is reportedly expected to be named secretary of state.
Rubio pointed to concerns at the Canada-US border. He recently criticized Canada’s move to accept Palestinian refugees, claiming that “known terrorists and criminals continue to flow across the United States’ land border, including from Canada.”
Trump’s choice of New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for the position of ambassador to the United Nations also focused on the border with Canada.
Stefanik, as a member of the Northern Border Security Caucus, called on the Department of Homeland Security to secure the border, claiming there has been an increase in human and drug trafficking.
“We must protect our children from these dangerous illegal immigrants who are streaming across our northern border in record numbers,” she posted on X last month.
Stefanik has little foreign policy experience, but Trump described her as a “smart America First fighter.” She repeatedly denounced the United Nations, saying that the international organization was anti-Semitic because of its criticism of the Israeli bombing of Gaza.
US media reports say that Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, a long-time Trump loyalist, has been chosen to run Homeland Security. She was on the vice presidential shortlist until controversy erupted over an anecdote in her book about shooting a dog.
“She doesn’t seem to have very warm feelings (toward Canada),” Hampson said.
Last year, she claimed to be in talks with a Canadian family-owned business looking to move to her state due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
But Noem also said the agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico, negotiated under the first Trump administration, was a “huge victory.”
The tripartite agreement is scheduled to be reviewed in 2026.
Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s former trade representative, has been an informal adviser to the president-elect’s transition, and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said they remain in touch.
Analysts have described him as an option for several jobs in a second Trump administration, including a return to the trade portfolio, although Hampson said he was unlikely to return to the trade representative role.
Hampson said important questions remain about the extent of the impact of the tariffs and whether there will be exceptions for industries such as energy. Trump and his team may also pin the tariff threat to upcoming trade negotiations.
“Will we be held to the tariff on the first day or soon after?” Hampson asked.
Some experts called on Canada to remain calm and focus on opportunities rather than fears. Others called for bold action and creative thinking.
Canada revived a ministerial committee on Canada-US relations just over 24 hours after Trump’s victory.
Under Trump’s first presidency, Canada successfully negotiated the trilateral trade deal by demonstrating alignment of the country’s interests and economies, Trudeau said Tuesday in Fredericton.
“It will continue like this,” he added.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
