Close Reading

This is not about tariffs. It is about Trump unravelling all of America's relationships with its allies, to make the country weaker, in the service of Putin. Canada is just the first. But Europe will be next. Then America stands alone, too weak to be a world leader.

Like Russia, Canada has key strategic resources and huge oil and gas reserves. The west could not cause the collapse of the Russian economy after it invaded Ukraine because of that key fact. Canada will eventually find other markets for its natural resources. This is a sad fact as integrating our economy with the U.S. has been a great benefit to both countries. You buy our natural resources, we buy your manufactured goods. Too bad, this administration does not see this simply reality. Don't get me wrong, Canada will suffer MORE than the U.S. as our economy is much smaller, but it will survive and once it decouples its economy from that of the U.S., it will be fine. The U.S. on the other hand is breaking treaties with longtime allies and isolating itself on the world stage. It is squandering its place as world leader and world superpower. China is licking its chops.

While I am going to financially suffer from this, I want to see our country start new deals with Europe and Asia. Until tRump is gone and ALL of his minions have left office, I don't want to see any deals with the US. \nWe knew Trump wanted to destroy Canada financially. This was NOT about fentynal.\nWe have enough wood, enough oil, and enough resources to establish good relationships around the world. And sustain fellow Canadians.

As an American, I stand with Canada, Mexico, and Ukraine. Shut off oil delivery and natural gas. I know you do not want to do this, you have no choice. I live in Michigan, and working with Canada has always been a give. The auto industry is important. I pray for the end of this quickly.

This is not about Putin CNN, it's about fair trade between the US and Canada.

What has Canada and European countries done to actually try and end the death and destruction from this war? Europe buys energy from Russia, and Canada is only giving 650 million dollars in weapons over three years, while America has supplied hundreds of billions of dollars in aid and military equipment. Zelensky goes around the world dressed in a military outfit with no desire to stop the slaughter of humans on both sides. There have been thousands of wars where, eventually, one side has to accept the reality that they can not win, Zelensky is unwilling to see this. President Trump was elected because we want his AMERICA FIRST AGENDA, and with us saddled with 36 TRILLION dollars of debt, this war needs to stop.

As a US citizen, I apologize on behalf of this corrupt administration. I certainly didn't vote for the ??, and I'm not sure how anyone could have... yet, here we are. Half of the US certainly deserves it, and I fully understand the need for extreme measures at this point. What he did to Zelenskyy and what he is doing to our allies...yall do what ya gotta do. Half of us are rooting for Canada, Ukraine, and our allies. Idk what's wrong with the other half, but its shameful to say the least. It was never about fentanyl. Trump doesn't give half of a fuck if people die from fentanyl or otherwise.

Who owns the majority of the stock market? Who cares. More than half of us don't own stocks. As for Canada, Trump is doing what he thinks is best for Americans not Canada. Not any talk here on why Trump did this and no one here seems to want to know. Let the talking heads that own tons of stocks through Black Rock tell you all you need to stay in the dark.

It is evident that comments like the one from @robertedward7023 demonstrate many, many people do not know what took place at the meeting before this meeting which should have made this meeting a simple signing of the agreement. VP Vance corrected Zelensky for his attempt to propagate his agenda and now that Germany, France and others--as NATO countries--have jumped in, there could be consequences resulting in war if they continue to push for it. As far as Trudeau, he is on his way out according to his own resignation and he has just done Canada wrong with the faulty reasoning. I thank all military veterans for their service, but I do not approve of what they say blindly.

Securing our boarders north as well as south . China military coming into Canada as well as drugs crossing our boarder from the north ? US promised Russia that NATO would not enter Ukraine . There is more to this story than the spin that Trudeau and CNN is presenting . Stop funding this war . Stop the killing . Stop laundering our tax dollars .

This man has a master and he is doing and saying what his master wanted him to say. He is not honest to say all the high tariffs Canada is imposing to USA.

What would be interesting to know is how trade between Canada and Europe explodes, Europe would like all the oil and gas and rare earthminerals Canada has, so would China, if for nothing other than to prevent Americas access to it. I think trump and musk think russia will supply rare earth minerals on the cheap, but Russia is about to collapse again and various regions break away as they did last time, but this time is much worse than back then, Russia really could cease to exist and America will not benefit at all, Europe China India Mongolia will benefit. Russians hate america more than Americans hates Russia, America has been prosperous, while 40% of Russians don't have running water or electricity, yes the big cities and towns in the west are better off but most of Russia does not even have paved roads.\n\nTrump is backing his banker, and everyone knows it, pootin is using trump, very clearly shown when he set up President Zelensky in that ambush.\n\nEurope China and other countries will be in line to sign trade deals. I think it was clever of Trudeau to say what he did. And to set a few months before the massive cuts in trade with America as what the rapist president is doing, what republicans are doing will be biting very hard by then, and Canada cutting trade at that time will be possibly the straw that breaks trump.

Canada and Mexico are not responsible for the people in the US who chose to use drugs. In fact, it's the United States job to keep illegal drugs and immigrants out of the US and they are doing a poor job of it and need someone else to blame. Mexico could retaliate in a way that could flood the US with illegal drugs and immigrants and refuse to repatriate its citizens back into Mexico. The rest of Central and South America could do the same in support of Mexico. They need to get Trump out of office before he ruins America.\nI remember the press conference with the USA (Trump), Canada and Mexico when signing the new trade agreement during Trump last time in office. Trump proudly stated that this is the greatest agreement in the history of the United States. Last week he wanted to know who in the US agreed to the terrible trade agreement. He is losing his mind and cognitive function is deteriorating at a rapid rate. Re-negotiating contracts after the work is complete is how Trump ran his businesses. He has bankrupted many small businesses by not paying them knowing that they do not have the money to go to court. He is only rich because of daddy's money otherwise he would have never survived his many bankruptcies. Thats why no one will loan him money. I can't wait until he screws over the government of Saudi Arabia with one of his shady business deals. Anyone remember what happened to Khashoggi for just authoring a bad article on Saudi's Leaders. What do you think will happen to Trump for monetarily screwing them over?

???????? here,If there’s one thing I learned in university as a political science graduate, and I did take a US government course was part of my degree. I thought that there were so many checks and balances on the president of the United States, but seeing his actions, I am very confused at how he is not being questioned for his mental stability and his actual ability to lead your country I mean to what degree is the definition of treason not applied I don’t understand how the president of the United States can now align himself with Russia and destroy allegiances with friends and allies This is not seen as treason?\nTo my American readers… just remember the United States knows no better friend than Canada….. so does any of this make sense? How is it that we are the enemy now and your president wants to support Russia is he a Russian operative? How are you not removing this guy from power where are all these checks and balances that you always bragged about through my entire life ?

Mr Trump is a criminal, who is destroying the United States of American. I love Canada and Canadian people . Washington state loves Canada. We are trying to stop Mr Trump and Mr Musk. This is not America, ????✌?

This will hurt america way more than it will hurt Canada! Canadians are used to tightening their belts and pulling together and remember that when our trade deals are ratified with other countries and those relationships are built and new trade routes are forged bypassing the u.s. then the u.s. will be a stand alone country wait until Canadas oil and gas and electricity is turned , and let's talk about Canadas potash and just about everything else will be gone let's not forget about tourism because instead of making north America stronger Canada will be stronger and once we start getting fair market value for Canadian energy and our national debt is gone then it'll be bye bye Americans. You won't be the stronger nation on earth very much longer. Is America joining Russia as a new communist agreement.

Let’s not forget that in Mar-a-Lago when this Prime Minister and Trump were sitting Trump asked him “”what is the worst thing the US can do to Canada and he replied put tariffs”

Canada uses technology and forward thinking to protect their border. The US is decades behind border control and instead hang on building a border wall. A wall. A wall that has proven time and again to be ineffective and costly to build and maintain. Trump is a dinosaur and an autocrat that has brought America to its knees. Americans will not stand for it. This is temporary.

Good job all of you Countries need to stand up for yourselves because we Americans don’t agree with this either and we stand behind you all because being a bully is never a good things and Trump and Vance is putting all Americans at risk with the moves they are playing trying to run the World.Well you know what in all reality Trump and Vance does not care about the American people only the Billionaires he is beside including Elon.So Zelensky get with Canada and other European countries and hold your own against Russia.Putin is evil and Trump is his friend period and will back Russia before he does NATO

P S. If the US is so focused on fentanyl, why don't they put the resources needed into fighting this scourge (thank you p.m. Trudeau) themselves? Why not? Because this is all a dangerous (& dumb) distraction. \nThank you again for hosting this and to Justin Trudeau for his intelligent and incisive delivery. Canada ALL THE WAY ?????????

As an American, I don’t watch CNN clips and believe what politicians say on either side to get my news. However, it’s absolutely true that EU, and China places tariffs on the US. It is also true that United States provide most of the security for all the free nations. At what point do we say enough? I do not know if Mexico or Canada has tariffs on US goods before this. But if they did, they have become quite entitled, haven’t they.

This is getting ugly. Canada is already in a not good way and this will make it worse. I am not taking sides, but Canada will suffer more than the U.S.

Both Canada and Mexico have done everything to work together with U.S. - we are the 3 amigos and trade partners. I cant believe this is happening, hopefully it will all resolve each other. We are not enemies, we are the closest countries not only in geography, but in history, culture, and trade.

I know this economic war on Canada will be difficult enough already but I urge my friends north of the border to do their best to fund a massive military expansion as rapidly as possible. Trump is clearly setting the stage and manufacturing excuses so he can invade and force Canada into becoming his 51st state and he's not going to stop with just trying to cripple your economy. Don't make Europe's mistake of thinking Americans are honorable friends and allies who can be trusted to keep their word. We're nothing but a bunch of ignorant, nasty, greedy, white supremacists who hate every other people on Earth. As a US Army veteran, I am ashamed of my country's unprovoked brutality once again.

You and your country are admirable! I am an American and I completely oppose what the Trump administration is doing with these tariffs. I will be buying Canadian and Mexican whenever possible, and have changed my European vacation plans to spend my vacation dollars in Canada this spring and in Mexico this fall.\n\nI am impressed with the alternative trade agreements Canada is developing. Too many Americans are willfully ignorant and do not understand the negative effects that tariffs and trade wars have. They will learn soon enough!

What the heck does Putin have on Donnie? Was it pedophilia on Epstein's Island? was it sex with boys and girls? Was it the mythical pee tapes? Whatever it is it has to be big enough to get Donnie to break with all the US's traditional allies which has to be making Putin rub his hands with glee. How far does this adjudged rapist, and 34 count felon that the US decided it wanted to make it's President, have to go before someone steps in and say that Trump represents a clear and \npresent danger to the economic and military security of the world? His administration forced New York's director of the FBI to resign because that man did not want to give up the names of personnel who investigated the Jan 6 insurrectionists. He put a known Russian apologist, Tulsi Gabbard, in charge. He has frozen aid to a country actively fighting for it's very survival against an aggressive and expansionist Russia. He applied tariffs against Canada and threatens the same against Europe., he has banned the freedom to protest in colleges though he freed people imprisoned for rising in actual insurrection against the Government. Dictatorship comes in steps isolation from the world and suppression of freedoms are but two. The free world weeps for what the US is becoming under this current administration.

OH JUSTIN YOU ARE SO RIGHT THIS IS VERY PERSONAL YOU MADE FUN OF HIM AND HE IS TAKING REVENGE, BUT PRESIDENT CHUMP OBVIOUSLY CANNOT SEPERATE BUSINESS FROM HIS PERSONAL PROBLEMS, THE WHOLE WORLD DOES NOT LIKE THIS GUY WHEN HIS TERM IN OFFICE IS OVER THE ONLY TWO PLACES THAT HE WOULD BE WELCOME IN IS HIS HOME COUNTRY AND RUSSIA AND I AM NOT SO SURE ABOUT RUSSIA I WROTE ON YOUTUBE BEFORE THAT THIS GUY IS SINKING THE AMERICAN FLEET FAST AND MORE THOROUGHLY THAN THE JAPANESE DID AT PEARL HAROR MAN AT THIS MOMENT THE TWO WORST NATIONALITIES TO BE IS AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN THEY BOTH ARE CAUSING GREAT HARM NOT ONLY TO THE WORLD, BUT MOSTLY TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES TALK ABOUT SELFISH LEADER'S. PRESIDENT CHUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING WITH THE LEADER'S WE HAVE NOW IT IS NOT IF WE WILL ENGAGE EACH OTHER IN A WORLD WAR, BUT WHEN THE LEADER'S WE HAVE NOW ARE STEERING THE HUMAN RACE IN THAT DIRECTION AND PRESIDENT CHUMP YOU AND PRESIDENT POUTINE WILL BE CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE. THE LEADER'S WE HAVE ELECTED TODAY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE MISERY IN THE WORLD TODAY. LEADER'S LIKE PRESIDENT KENNEDY, GHANDI, CHURCHILL ETC. TODAY WE HAVE LEADER'S LIKE TRUDEAU WHO CREATED MISERY AND DIVISION IN CANADA THE FORE MENTIONED LEADER'S ALREADY METIONED ARE DIRECTED BY PERSONAL GREED AND AMBITION AND HYPOCRACY. PRESIDENT ZELINSKY I AM AFFRAID LEADER'S LIKE YOU THAT HAVE COURAGE INTEGRITY AND STRENGHT ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN I AM SORRY TO TELL YOU BUT I THINK IN REALTY YOU STAND ALONE NOT MANY LEADER'S TODAY PUT COUNTRY AND COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN BEFORE THEIR PERSONAL GREED AND AMBITION, BUT IF YOU SUCCEED YOU WILL BE STRONGER AND FAR BETTER OFF GOD BLESS

This is totally on Trump. Canada did not choose this. I’m proud of the way Prime Minister Trudeau is handling this.\n\nTrump is not such a smart man. Smart men don’t attack friends and allies.

I’m Canadian but lived in the US for 12 years. Trump keeps moving the goal post. This is bullying, plain and simple. Do not yield, Canada. You yield to a bully and he’ll keep taking and taking. I know my people of the north are strong and they know the hardships ahead are worth it for the greater good. But I also know my friends here in the US are largely in Canada’s favor and for that I am thankful. President Trump does not speak for all Americans.

Bro just focus on canada....lmao...I don't think foreign leaders should be speaking for Americans. You're not Americans. We both know why this is happening,,,you're country censors speech,,The Trumps administration do not like that one bit. As long as Canada is led by a liberal (meaning liberal/communist/marxist/woke policies being passed),,it's a threat to national security to the United States (If a republican is President). It just beats the logic of being an American.

This is especially troubling because this is not Trump's endgame. This is the beginning. He is taking a playbook from Putin to raise hostilities and start to paint Mexico and Canada as enemies which will somehow justify more severe actions, such as invasion and taking of land and resources. This needs to stop NOW.

When I was growing up in Canada, hearing of someone being a “Proud American” was something I admired. Today it’s a punch line to a joke about the American education system. They have nothing left to be proud of, and I’m so thankful to be from this country instead. Trump administration or not, the American people can not be trusted to vote in their own self interest, let alone the interests of the allies that stood with them for the last century and who have lost lives sending men and women over seas to answer the American call for friendship, justice, and loyalty. America wants to stand alone so let them. The global order is shifting, and Canada needs to plan accordingly. Don’t listen to what people say, watch what they do, and Americans have done enough.

This is nothing to do with Fentanyl. Trump is giving Canada the unpleasant medicine it desperately needs to cure from the woke mind virus. The weak DEI type will not survive. Only then will Canada become strong and a worthy partner to the reborn USA.

This American stands with Canada. \nHit em back, Trudeau. He is not our king. He needs to go. Show the American people that voted for this Dictator that they made a huge mistake (again). ?

Lord I am so sorry you felt the need to stroke djt's ego by claiming he's smart . He is not. He is evil and once he gets what he wants from an individual, organization or country, you are expendable. Maybe st decent Americans do not want this or want to see our Northern neighbors suffer. We are in this together and we will resist this together. Canada strong!????????✌️

Unbelievable how all these comments show that the wool has been drawn over all your eyes. This man is a tyrant and cares not for his own people, never mind the Americans. Go ask the truckers and real grafters of your country.\n \nAll I can say is what he’s doing here with this speech and his actions is he is in fact sugar coating it and this is making it more likely that Canada will be the he 51st state. So I welcome you Canada with open arms. Xx

Trudeau is a weak leader, plain and simple. The people of Canada want him out of there. He's screwed up the economy big time in Canada and his only recourse is to come after Trump. He's weak and he is pathetic. Keep your eyes on Alberta, they really have the power in Canada, and they are fed up of bankrolling this idiot and the rest of the provinces. Let's make Alberta the 51st State. Trudeau can keep the rest of the Socialists. As far as his comments on Russia, the guy is far off base its not even worth commenting on it. Trudeau is a little minion and has lost complete respect on the world stage.

If look at another perspective, if Trump did not impose tarrifs, then Canada will continue to sell the cars back to US for high profits. Trump mentioned about this, he is not happy. Actually I can understand Trump and what he is trying to do. If he is not harsh, Canada will never change taking advantage of US, not spending on own military.... Etc. US empire is declining fast, and Trump knows this. He is desperate to make his own country great again and stop the decline even though what he must do is going to be very unpopular among all americunts' friends and allies. The same for EU and troublemaker Ukraine who started the war by arrogantly provoking giant superpower neighbor Russia. US cannot afford to fund money, soldiers, weapons for war anymore. If EU wants to support, EU can go ahead without US. Trump is trying to save his own country so he is not wrong.

The majority of US citizens stand with Canada, Ukraine and Europe. We are experiencing a coup and have been betrayed by all 3 branches of our government. We don’t even know if our own military would defend us or attack us with trump as commander in chief. We are concerned that peaceful protests would be met with our military shooting us. \nWe know this trade war is stupid and has nothing to do with fentanyl. We are trying desperately to stop this coup so I beg you, Canada do not judge us as complicit with trump. We are willing to suffer to support your resistance to us in order to stand up to this horrible president.

I never voted for Trudeau, but it is hard not to admire him after this speech. He makes Trump look just like he is.. an old, ugly, out-of-shape, and very, very stupid fool. The last thing Canada needs right now are bootlicking Conservatives like Pierre Poilievre. And on a final note.. Trudeau was wrong, Donald is NOT a smart man. He is an utter imbecile.

We can't get mad at Canada this is exactly what Trump wanted you said once you said 100 times Trump does not give a damn about the American people

Well, from a European perspective, Trump is making the US if not an enemy (yet, anyway), surely not an ally or a friend, as you used to be.\nLots of European contracts will be lost - European countries will rely more on each other and Canada, Australia and other countries that we know we can still trust.\nAnd European consumers will move from American products and companies, especially anything Musk related, because people are really bothered and upset here, how easily an erratic madman can take a democratic country into an oppressive, destructive country.\nWe have no issues with the American people, apart from that you voluntarily brought this upon yourselves (and us), although it was screamingly obvious already in 2016.\nAnd you did it twice...

Also awfully funny how y'all were perfectly ignorant when Joe Biden was increasing the tariffs against everywhere else when Donald Trump left the last time he didn't remove them he added on to them and increased them and y'all didn't say anything about it then. You'll act like this is the first time anybody's ever heard of tariffs and yet Canada already had it against us we already had it against them just like every other country. Tariffs are just a fancy government word for interest and as long as those interests are aligned and in favor for Democrats tariffs are okay but when they're not all of a sudden they're not okay again.

I'm usually reasonable enough to realize that while I may disagree with many policy decisions, there's usually a relatively coherent line of thought to back said actions up. The problem here is that there’s no clear logic behind using tariffs as a tool to curb fentanyl trafficking or immigration. I'm not going to speak on the issue of immigration at the Canadian border because there simply is none. Yes, there are illegals from Canada, but almost 100% of them are from overstaying visas rather than crossing the border unlawfully. So let's talk about fentanyl. \n\nMost fentanyl in the US originates from China, often in precursor form, and is then processed in Mexico before being smuggled into the states. But it's typically trafficked in small, high potency quantities, often hidden in legitimate shipments or through mail, and only on very rare occasions is it being brought in by individuals crossing the border. It has _never_ been documented to have shipped in as part of large scale commercial imports, so a 25% tariff on legal trade with Canada and Mexico doesn’t directly target the black market supply chain at all.\n\nIf we take Trump’s reasoning at face value, the argument seems to be that he wants to exert economic pressure on Mexico and Canada as a means of having them crack down harder on drug trafficking networks. But the issue is that fentanyl simply isn’t coming in through mass import channels, so all this looks like is a punitive measure without a clear mechanism to actually achieve its stated goal. And the implications? Drastically higher costs for consumers in the US, Canada, and Mexico, with absolutely nothing to show for it.

Canada won't back down at all they never did during the oppressive mandates they formed the trucker convoys and put a stop to that madness the U.S never did anything like that. Trump is just a terrible leader all he has done since in power is attack allies its not like he went after any of the people that were trying to get him convicted, this moronn as soon as he was voted into power he attacked Canada his closest ally ridiculous, I'm beginning to think Trump is an agent of some kind based on his actions so so retarded his actions.

CANADA ?? WILL BE OK BUT THIS IS NOT GOOD AT ALL Orange face is not doing the right thing

I live near the Canadian border,and stand with Canada on the reciprocal tariff increases. This was not necessary,but Trump is always looking for a fight. My state will suffer with job losses as automobiles are our main industry. Reciprocate and do it hard because my countrymen were wrong to put Trump back into power. Redamdiculous!

This is how a leader should speak. He speaks with sincerity and with clarity. He doesnt speak broadly just to an entire audience. He speaks to each group of people that this is concerning to, and making sure we understand the magnitude of this situation. He adjusts how he speak to each group, and also to our sad president. Thats the vibe of the message he was giving me. Many different types of languages and emotions are spoken at the same time.\n\nI love our country, but I do not agree with how our currents presidents policies, changes, and tear down of our government/agencies in just 2 months. I cant imagine the months to come. People are already struggling, and are divided so much more that Americans are not siding with each other, but siding with Canada and Mexico who have been so patient and understanding with us. We need to stand up against our president to stop this isolation and division. We are already divided in our country. I can't stand to see we are starting to be divided globally. This will litterally shrink our economy and our opportunities. Not only that, it puts our national security in peril. We need to do better to work together in harmony.

Donald Trump claims to be a Christian but what he is doing to other countries and his own country by firing people from government jobs is totally against God God gives life he don't take it and he would never have sent people to the streets just because some politicians created a job for the people this is going to cause people to lose their homes vehicles and their livelihood it is totally evil. And then placing these tariffs on other countries is no less than say I want your country he wants Canada he wants Panama, he wants Ukraine's lithium. And he wants to take it all and he is wrong in that because he is affecting people's lives and God Almighty will not put up with Donald Trump giving into the spoiled brat Elon Musk and his dictatorship attitude. Both Elan and Trump have no heart for the poor or the hardship they have placed on these people but God Almighty has a heart for the people who have lost their jobs and their livelihood because of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. In the book of Isaiah God said to the people that were coming against Israel, you have pissed on a wall. And everybody knows that when you piss on a wall it's going to come back on you and that's exactly what's happened. They didn't do it to the people that lost their jobs they did it to God Almighty who loves all people and wants them to have their wages. Maybe Elon Musk knows everything about technology and space craft, but the man ain't got a lick a common sense he has exactly zero wisdom when making decisions. But his greatest lack as he has no heart for the people who are going to be disrupted by losing their jobs he doesn't feel a thing he has no heart he needs to read the Bible because that's where your heart gets developed and you know right from wrong. And you know what God approves of and what he doesn't, and I'm telling you right now God Almighty does not approve of what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing. I voted for him, and now I am ashamed that I voted for him because he never mentioned he was going to do all this horrible horror to the very American people that voted for him. Now I pray for God's divine intervention because what he's doing to the American people and to other countries is not right

Yup we( some of us) bought this S88t story of nationalist glory and thank god the Canada and the world sees and is standing up to this right wing nut circus. We the people of America have to fix this like a cancer it won't be easy and it won't be without pain to go around but just as we found in WWII and since we can not allow this type of depictive type of government to get a foothold. Stand tough hold yourselves above this mess so you can help us when we have worked through this.