 "US President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hold a meeting ahead of the Nato summit in Watford, in London, Britain, on December 3, 2019. Reuters File")
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday called US President Donald Trump and spoke for about 50 minutes to discussed fentanyl smuggling and trade.
After the call, Trump accused the Canadian leader of playing up a Canada-US trade war to cling to power.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump said, “He was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election is taking place, which made me curious, like, what’s going on here? I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power. Good luck Justin!”
Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January, is to step down after a Liberal party leadership contest this weekend which will choose his replacement.
That person will then also become prime minister, and have the power to call the next federal election, which must be held no later than October - though political analysts have said it could come earlier.
Canadian prime ministers can call elections at any point in the government’s five-year term.
Trump also told Trudeau that Canada’s moves to stop fentanyl trafficking are “not good enough.”
“For anyone who is interested, I also told Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada that he largely caused the problems we have with them because of his Weak Border Policies, which allowed tremendous amounts of Fentanyl, and Illegal Aliens, to pour into the United States. These Policies are responsible for the death of many people!” Trump said of his call with the Canadian prime minister.
“…I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said that it’s gotten better, but I said, “That’s not good enough.” The call ended in a “somewhat” friendly manner!” Trump added.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTrudeau has repeatedly said that less than one percent of the fentanyl and undocumented migrants that enter the United States come through the Canadian border, although Trump has dismissed the figure.
Meanwhile, Canadian source directly familiar with the conversation confirmed the 50 minutes call between the two leaders.
“Teams from both countries will continue to hold discussions on Wednesday,” Reuters quoted the source as saying, who did not give details.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Vice President JD Vance were also on the call, the source added.
Trudeau and Trump have had a fractious relationship since Trump’s return to the White House in January, as the pair sparred over trade and fentanyl trafficking.
A frustrated Trudeau said Tuesday, after Trump moved ahead with imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports into the US, that while he thinks Trump is a “smart guy,” the tariffs are a “very dumb thing to do.”
He also accused Trump of seeking to collapse the Canadian economy to make the country easier to annex.
Trump has spoken several times of making Canada the 51st American state.
Trump’s trade attacks have also been coupled with a particular animosity against the man he calls “Governor Trudeau.”
With inputs from agencies