The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has lashed out this Monday against the Canadian authorities, whom he has labeled as "clowns," and has warned that if Ottawa does not "get in line," the consequences "will be much worse." His words come just hours after announcing that he will increase tariffs on automobiles, trucks, automotive components, and steel from Canada by up to 50% starting January 1, 2027, focusing on the energy that Canada receives through U.S. territory.
"Without the United States, Canada could not survive; that is where they get all their money and, due to their current mismanagement, mainly that of the governor (the Prime Minister, Mark) Carney and his henchman, (the Governor of Ontario, Doug) Ford, they will not be allowed to continue taking advantage," Trump stated in a social media post. In that same message, despite having assured this Monday that "Canada will no longer be treated as a state" of the United States, he continued to refer to Carney as governor and not as prime minister.
In his message, the president insisted that "a large part of the electricity, oil, and gas that Canada receives is transported through the United States" and then issued a new warning: "someone should make these clowns get in line or, otherwise, the consequences for Canada will be much worse."
JD Vance hardens the economic rhetoric towards Canada
Shortly after, the U.S. Vice President, JD Vance, reinforced the line set by Trump in an interview with a media outlet in Maine, where he emphasized that, "unfortunately for Canadians, they depend" on the U.S. economy and, in particular, on the state of Maine "much more than Maine depends on them."
"So what we are going to do is impose fair rules, force Canadians to sit at the table, and give Maine businesses the same treatment they give their own businesses," Vance argued, describing this strategy as "basic fairness" and stressing that in Washington they will have to "be a little firm" to achieve it.
"That is what we are trying to do," added the vice president, who considered that, "in the long term," this approach "will be beneficial for everyone in Maine." The statements from Trump and Vance come on the same day that the White House has confirmed that tariffs on automobiles, trucks, automotive components, and steel from Canada will be raised to 50% starting January 1, 2027, following the failure of the latest trade talks between the two countries.