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Trump’s Cold War Against Canada [1]
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Date: 2025-03-09
Did Canada’s national anthem, “Oh Canada,” anticipate the imperialistic belligerence of Trump 2.0? Originally composed in 1880 in French, with English lyrics written in 1908, the song “O Canada” reflects the nation’s sense of pride and unity. While the French and English versions of the anthem differ, they both express a strong commitment to the nation’s sovereignty and the protection of its citizens. The anthem’s French version sings, “For your arm knows how to bear the sword,” concluding with, “Will protect our homes and our rights.” The English version begins with, “O Canada! Our home and native land! / True patriot love in all of us command,” and ends with the powerful refrain, “God keep our land glorious and free! / O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.” It seems that, in the current context, Canadians may indeed need to “stand on guard” against an increasingly aggressive U.S. administration under Donald Trump.
Canada is America’s closest ally, but that reality is becoming irrelevant in Trump’s effort to become America’s first dictator. Since December 3, 2024, Trump has made saber-rattling remarks about annexing Canada on seven separate occasions. It is one thing to rattle the saber and another to use it. Since the Treaty of Washington in 1871, the U.S. has never suggested or promoted an annexationist movement in Canada. Some Americans may laugh this off as Trumpian posturing, but his aggression must be condemned by Americans as well as Canadians.
We forget, at our peril, that Hitler’s imperialism began with annexation. In March 1938, Hitler annexed Austria. It was called Anschluss, a German word meaning connection or joining. Then, in September 1938, he annexed the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia. Trump’s behavior is disturbingly reminiscent of Hiter’s early expansionism.
The relationship between the U.S. and Canada has not been without tension. There have been ongoing trade concerns on both sides of the border. Issues about Canada’s softwood lumber industry go back to the 1980s when complaints were made that Canada allowed timber companies to harvest wood on public land at below-market rates. Despite the fact that Canada keeps winning this dispute in trade courts, the U.S. keeps imposing tariffs.
The U.S. imports over $7 billion of softwood lumber annually from Canada due to many factors, including the fact that the U.S. softwood lumber industry can only meet 65% to 70% of the demand. The issue is complex, but the reality is that the lumber from Canada is vital for the domestic economy of the U.S.
There are other trade issues involving dairy products, steel and aluminum, cars, etc., but the deficit is relatively small. In 2023, U.S. exports to Canada were $441 billion, while imports were $482 billion for a trade deficit of $41 billion. In the same year, the U.S. trade deficit with China was approximately $382.9 billion.
Nonetheless, Trump’s brand of extreme America First nationalism has brought these trade disputes to the forefront, with a dangerous undercurrent of dominance. His trade advisor, Peter Navarro, has long been hostile to Canada, as far back as 2016. This animosity has manifested in Trump’s erratic tariff policies, including the 25% tariff on Canadian goods. These tariffs have been imposed and revised and are now delayed until April, adding further confusion to the trade relationship. In retaliation, Canada has imposed tariffs, initially targeting $30 billion of U.S. goods, with plans to expand to $125 billion.
Trump’s treatment of Canada now mirrors that of Russia’s actions toward Ukraine—an escalating cold war rather than an outright hot conflict. It is chilling to think that Canada may need to defend its sovereignty not from traditional warfare but from economic and political pressures designed to weaken it.
Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the Canada bureau chief for The New York Times, based in Toronto. Her article, “How Trump’s ‘51st State’ Canada Talk Came to Be Seen as Deadly Serious” (Source), makes it clear that Trump’s rhetoric has gone far beyond trolling.
On February 3, 2025, Trump held a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in which he suggested that the U.S.-Canada boundary treaty was invalid and that he might revise the treaty to alter the boundary. This boundary, primarily following the 49th parallel north, was established through treaties from 1818 to 1846, with the Canadian-Alaska boundary formalized in 1903. While there have been minor disputes over boundary waters, they have been well managed. It was only after a follow-up call between Howard Lutnik, Trump’s soon-to-be Secretary of Commerce, and Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc that the full scope of Trump’s intentions became clearer. Lutnik revealed that Trump believed that many existing treaties between the two countries could easily be discarded.
As conversations continued, the list of threats grww and now includes:
1 Unilaterally removing Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group, which includes Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.
2 Shredding the agreement and conventions that define how four Great Lakes are jointly managed: Lakes Erie, Huron, Ontario, and Superior.
3 Evaluating the possibility of change in military cooperation between the two countries, including the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
4 Pulling out of NATO
This stark escalation of tensions signals an unprecedented shift in U.S.-Canada relations. As President Ronald Reagan said in a speech on October 4, 1983, “Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies; they are our allies. We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends—weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world—all while cynically waving the American flag.” Trump risks jeopardizing not just its relationship with Canada but the stability of the entire international order.
Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” with its call to “stand on guard,” seems eerily prescient in light of the current political climate. The idea that a long-time ally could find itself at odds with the United States, especially over matters of sovereignty, is deeply troubling. As Trump’s imperialistic rhetoric escalates, both Canadians and Americans must recognize and resist the dangers posed by such militaristic nationalism.
Time left to January 20, 2029: 1,412 days
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