Washington, D.C.: Following a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the trade conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Trudeau of attempting to leverage the situation to maintain his political position.
Trump shared the details of the conversation in a post on the social media platform Truth Social. He remarked, "He (Trudeau) couldn't inform me about the date of the Canadian election, which piqued my curiosity about what was happening. I then realized he is trying to use this issue to remain in power."
The President emphasized the fatalities linked to fentanyl, which he stated "crossed the borders from Canada and Mexico." He expressed skepticism about the cessation of fentanyl smuggling, noting that the discussion concluded on a "somewhat" amicable note.
"Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, reached out to discuss potential solutions regarding tariffs. I informed him that many lives have been lost due to fentanyl that has entered through the borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that this issue has been resolved. He claimed the situation has improved, but I responded, 'That's not good enough.' The call ended on a 'somewhat' friendly note! He was unable to tell me when the Canadian election is scheduled, which made me wonder what is really going on. I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power. Good luck, Justin!" Trump stated on Truth Social.
Additionally, Trump mentioned that he pointed out to the Canadian Prime Minister that the significant influx of fentanyl and "illegal aliens" into the United States is a result of Trudeau's "weak border policies."
Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada has been informed that his lenient border policies have significantly contributed to the issues we face, particularly regarding the influx of Fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the United States. These policies have led to numerous fatalities, Trump stated.
According to CNN, President Donald Trump's comprehensive 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada were implemented on Tuesday. Additionally, he increased the tariff on all Chinese imports from 10 percent to 20 percent. These new tariffs are in addition to existing duties on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese products. In response, both China and Canada quickly imposed tariffs on American goods, raising concerns about a potential trade war, as reported by CNN.
However, on Wednesday, Trump announced a one-month exemption from auto tariffs for Mexico and Canada, as confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, according to CNN.
