A Republican Senator attacked President-Elect Trump in feedback to NBC Information over his remedy of Canada and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying, “I don’t suppose it’s sensible for him [Trump] to humiliate Trudeau like he has.” The Senator, who was given anonymity by NBC to criticize Trump, additionally mentioned that Trump “doesn’t have an enormous mandate. This can be a 50-50 nation.”
Trudeau flew down to satisfy Trump for dinner at Mar-a-Lago final weekend with their respective workers members and Senator-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA) after Trump threatened Canada, Mexico and China with stiff tariffs if the three nations didn’t act to cease the movement of migrants and medicines into the U.S.
Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, who was on the dinner, spoke to the AP about the meeting (excerpt):
Hillman mentioned the majority of Friday night time’s dinner centered round Trump’s border issues. The ambassador mentioned a precedence of Trudeau’s was to level out the diploma of distinction.
Hillman mentioned there actually isn’t any comparability, noting there may be primarily zero trafficking of fentanyl from Canada to the US. She mentioned there are seizures however authorities say these are private use seizures and never legal trafficking. She mentioned that 99.8% of the fentanyl seized by U.S. authorities within the U.S. comes from Mexico.
However Hillman mentioned Canada is able to make new investments in border safety and there are plans for extra helicopters, drones and legislation enforcement officers.
She additionally famous an settlement between Canada and the US that permits for migrants caught crossing illegally into the US to be despatched again to Canada. She mentioned that was talked about. She mentioned Mexico and the U.S. do not need the same settlement.
On the dinner that lasted three hours, Hillman mentioned America’s commerce deficit with Canada was additionally raised. Hillman mentioned the U.S. had a $75 billion commerce deficit with Canada final yr however famous a 3rd of what Canada sells into the U.S. are power exports and costs have been excessive.
For his half, Trump reportedly jokingly advised Trudeau that Canada might turn into the 51st state with him as governor if Canada couldn’t deal with his insurance policies:
PETER DOOCY: “Tonight, we’re getting new particulars about that Trump-Trudeau dinner from two individuals who had been on the desk. We’re advised that when @JustinTrudeau advised President-elect Trump that new tarrifs would kill the Canadian financial system, Trump joked to him that if Canada can’t… pic.twitter.com/eAYNJL6SCq
— TV Information Now (@TVNewsNow) December 2, 2024
Excerpt from an NBC News report published Friday about Trump appearing like he’s already president whereas Joe Biden fades from the scene that featured the nameless GOP Senator attacking Trump:
No less than one Republican lawmaker questioned whether or not Trump’s strategy does, certainly, work. After Trump warned that he would slap tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China except they cracked down on the motion of migrants and medicines throughout the U.S. border, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida property, to see him.
Trudeau’s help in Canada has been slipping. He faces a tricky re-election bid, and the spectacle of him racing to Mar-a-Lago for an viewers with Trump risked making him appear to be a supplicant.
“I don’t suppose it’s sensible for him [Trump] to humiliate Trudeau like he has,” a Republican senator mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity to speak freely. “Canada is an effective good friend and isn’t an issue.”
The senator mentioned: “Trump was elected to interrupt some plates, however he doesn’t have an enormous mandate. This can be a 50-50 nation. We’ve obtained midterm [elections] coming and we’ve obtained one yr to ship, and it’s going to be arduous to get costs down with these tariffs.”