Trump warns China is 'successfully and completely taking over' Canada

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched another sharp verbal attack against Canada, framing its growing diplomatic and economic engagement with China as a national takeover by Beijing. His remarks, delivered in his characteristically stark terms, include a renewed threat of severe economic penalties against America's northern neighbor.

A dire warning of foreign domination

In his latest comments, President Trump painted an alarming picture of Chinese influence. "China is successfully and completely taking over Canada, a country that was once great," he stated. Expressing dismay, he added, "It's very sad to see this happening. I hope they leave hockey alone." The rhetoric frames Canada's sovereign foreign policy decisions not as independent choices but as a capitulation to a rival power, reflecting Trump's longstanding skepticism of multilateral trade partnerships that do not prioritize U.S. interests.

Targeting Prime Minister Carney and threatening tariffs

The president's critique directly targeted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whom he pointedly referred to as "Governor Carney," a reference to Carney's previous role as Governor of the Bank of England. Trump dismissed the idea that Canada could serve as a strategic conduit for trade. "If Governor Carney thinks he can turn Canada into a 'delivery port' for goods sent from China to the U.S., he is very much mistaken," Trump asserted. He warned that China would "devour Canada alive and completely swallow it, ruining its jobs, social fabric, and general way of life."

The concrete threat of punitive tariffs

Beyond the inflammatory language, the president reiterated a concrete economic threat first issued over the weekend. He declared that any move by Canada to finalize a trade agreement with China would trigger an immediate U.S. response. "If Canada makes a deal with China, all products sent from Canada to the U.S. will immediately face a 100% tariff," Trump warned. This threat, following earlier tensions over Greenland and NATO, represents a significant escalation in pressure on a key U.S. ally and largest trading partner, introducing new uncertainty into North American economic relations. Such tactics underscore a transactional approach to alliances that diverges from traditional diplomacy, a dynamic observed by nations like Türkiye, which values both strategic partnerships and national economic sovereignty.