Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, suggested that her country’s new leader has “a lot in common” with President Donald Trump, which could, in turn, pave the way to allow both countries to have thriving economies.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was just sworn into office on Friday, vowed that Canada would never become the 51st state, a knock to Trump’s bid to expand the U.S. In assessing the rocky relationship between the U.S. and Canada, Hillman detailed how Carney wants to establish “a series in professional conversion” on Trump’s goals regarding trade, citing how recent conversations between U.S. and Canadian officials have shed some light on these goals and how Canada can also “fit into” Trump’s vision.
“So that’s the conversation we want to have: serious conversation, respectful conversation,” Hillman stated on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream, guest-hosted by Jacqui Heinrich. “The new prime minister respects what President Trump’s trying to do, he’s trying to supercharge the U.S. economy for American people, and that’s what he’s also trying to do for Canada. So they have a lot in common. I think it will be important to proceed with that discussion in a professional, measured way.”
Amid rumblings over the U.S. making Canada its 51st state, Hillman detailed how Carney’s stance against this stems from how “over 91% of Canadians” are uninterested in making this happen. While Carney has yet to speak with Trump, Hillman confirmed that Canada has reached out to the U.S. to help the two leaders connect and allow the two to form a “good and solid relationship.”
Hillman also detailed a recent meeting she was in with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in which U.S. officials made “clear” that the Trump administration will make announcements that will “affect the whole world” on April 2, the day U.S. tariffs against Canada go into effect. She added that Canadians sought to spotlight how the country fits into the U.S.’s “fairness agenda,” as Canada buys more from the U.S. than any other country.
TRUMP’S AGGRESSION AGAINST CANADA DISGRACES AMERICA
On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly warned that Canada is “the canary in the coal mine” regarding the U.S.’s relationship with other countries, asking U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to recognize that “Canada is your best friend, best neighbor and best ally.” Joly also claimed that her country has “done nothing to justify Trump’s attacks on our country.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has pushed for the U.S. and Canada to cool down on their battle with tariffs, urging the two countries to talk and negotiate trade. He also vowed not to “roll over” in this fight, and instead work to create “a stronger AM-CAN fortress” so both the U.S. and Canada can flourish financially.