United States President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, on Feb. 4, in Washington.Evan Vucci/The Associated Press
It was only the first test – but in it, Donald Trump folded, as the shopworn expression goes, like a cheap suit.
To get him to retreat on his threat of back-breaking tariffs, all Justin Trudeau had do was toss him a few embellishments on his existing border security plan to deal with the paltry amount of fentanyl – less than one per cent of the total amount seized in the U.S. – crossing into America from Canada.
Why did Mr. Trump back off? Well actually, according to his ventriloquists at Fox News, he didn’t blink at all. He did wonderfully, crowed anchor Sean Hannity. And it’s best for Canadians to let that be the thinking in MAGA-land, because if the ugly – or better, thugly – President senses any gloating on our part, he is liable to descend back into deranged-bully mode.
The threat from him is far from over, but such was the scope of opposition to what the Wall Street Journal called “the dumbest trade war in history” that the chances of Mr. Trump inflicting mega-tariffs down the road have been reduced.
So that’s one encouraging development for Canada so far. But there’s another that’s already on the books: that with his economic assault and 51st-state threats, Mr. Trump has restored a sense of unity to a divided country.
He has bonded Canadians together from coast to coast, igniting their pride and stoking patriotism to a degree we have not seen since the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey showdown.
Instead of nation-wrecking, Mr. Trump’s effect so far has been to spur nation-building. Nothing unites the people like a grave threat to their homeland, one that is unprovoked and unjust.
Owing to the haters on social media, owing to the bitterness toward the Trudeau government, and owing to excessive political polarization, a sense of cohesion has long been absent in Canada. Consensus on anything has been hard to find. The White House’s challenge to our sovereignty provides it.
Party leaders at the provincial and federal level now find themselves in rare agreement. The media, on both the left and right, are joining in the fight. Mr. Trudeau has won back some respect with the determination showcased in his “we won’t back down” speech.
Canadians are boycotting American goods and travel to the U.S. in significant numbers. I recently posted on X that I had cancelled my planned golf vacation to Arizona; I quickly received 15,000 approving responses. As for Canadians booing the American anthem at sporting events – when was the last time that happened?
This country, having pushed the boundaries of multiculturalism and wokeism, needs a new nationalism. It appears to be in the making: Not a Trump-styled jingoism, but more of a focus on building ourselves up instead of taking a punching-bag posture.
It’s hard to imagine that the ties that bind between the countries, built over a 200-year period, can be shorn. We knew about Mr. Trump’s predatory ways with regard women and wealth but didn’t know they extended to the sovereignty of long-time allies. What he is doing, said British Columbia Premier David Eby, is “a complete betrayal of the historic bond between Canada and the United States.”
Some earlier presidents have contemplated, like Mr. Trump, moving aggressively against Canada. In becoming a part of the U.S., “Canadians would hold positions,” said Teddy Roosevelt more than a century ago, “incomparably more important, grander and more dignified than they can ever hope to reach.” But he had respect for the law and treaties and sovereignty. Richard Nixon imposed a tariff of 10 per cent, not even half of the 25-per-cent tariffs (excepting oil) that Mr. Trump has signalled, but that was soon lifted, and he soon paid homage to Canada’s “right to chart its own course.”
That’s not going to happen with Mr. Trump in the White House. But in addition to the benefits he is having on Canadian unity, there are other silver linings. His economic annexation threats will have the effect of finally getting interprovincial trade barriers removed. They will compel Ottawa to make freer trade agreements with other countries to ease some of our reliance on the United States. They could help Ottawa reach a trade deal with China and achieve better relations with that megapower.
Mr. Trump faces midterm elections in only 19 months. Given how poorly incumbents normally fare in these tests, he could lose the slim majorities he possesses in both the Senate and the House. That could shackle him.
In the meantime, Canadians will keep up the fight. They realize it’s a fight for independence – and, thanks to a president who treats their country like an enemy, they are hardened to the task.