Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 10, 2016
Trudeau pledges to work with president-elect Trump
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated Donald Trump on his stunning upset election win and is pledging to work with the president-elect, saying the two nations have a common goal in the success of their citizens.
In his first comments Tuesday’s U.S. election, upset, Trudeau looked past the months of divisive debate south of the border and stressed what the two countries have in common.
“The relationship between Canada and the United States is based on shared values and shared hopes and dreams and we will always work well together,” the prime minister said in Ottawa.
June 29, 2016
“We are strong because we listen to each other and we respect each other,” he told students gathered at a We Day event.
“I’m going to work with president-elect Trump’s administration as we move forward in a positive way for not just Canadians and Americans but the whole world,” he said.
It was a theme that was also reflected in Trudeau’s official statement on the election and his comments on social media Wednesday as Ottawa awoke to a new and surprising reality in America.
In a statement, the prime minister said that his government looks forward to working with the U.S. on issues such as trade, investment, and international peace and security.
“The relationship between our two countries serves as a model for the world. Our shared values, deep cultural ties, and strong integrated economies will continue to provide the basis for advancing our strong and prosperous partnership,” Trudeau said in his statement. (Source: Toronto Star)
An Update – November 27, 2024
November 12, 2016
When Donald Trump first became president in 2016, Canada found itself in an awkward spot. Justin Trudeau’s reaction was about as polite as you’d expect—lots of talk about shared values, working together, and keeping the relationship strong. Meanwhile, the rest of us watched nervously, wondering what Trump’s “America First” meant for Canada. At the time, I drew a cartoon that pretty much summed it up: Trump as a blazing sun, Trudeau melting under the heat, holding a beaver, with a bunch of dynamite and gas tanks around them labeled NAFTA, NATO, and the Paris Climate Accord. The punchline? Trump smirking and asking, “Aren’t you the one big on ‘Sunny Ways?’”
Fast forward to 2024, and here we are again. Trump’s back in the White House, and Trudeau’s still hanging on as Prime Minister. The same tensions from 2016 are back, and honestly, they feel even more intense now. Last time, there was a bit of a learning curve—no one quite knew what a Trump presidency would look like. Now we know, and it’s not exactly comforting.
Back then, Canada had to scramble to renegotiate NAFTA under Trump’s intense pressure, which ended up with us getting the USMCA—a deal that kept trade going but came with a few bruises. Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord while Trudeau leaned hard into climate commitments, putting us on very different paths. And every time Trump talked about NATO or trade tariffs, you could almost feel Canada holding its breath.
Sound familiar? It should, because it’s all happening again. Trump’s second term is shaping up to bring more tariffs, more trade drama, and the same “America First” vibes. On the climate front, Trudeau’s government is trying to go full steam ahead on green policies, but Trump’s likely to double down on fossil fuels and shrug off global climate goals. And don’t even get me started on NATO—it’s probably only a matter of time before Trump starts questioning why the U.S. should bother at all.
The big difference this time is how much more divided everything feels. In 2016, there was at least a sense that the global order could hold up under the weight of Trump’s unpredictability. Now? The world feels shakier, and Canada’s position feels more vulnerable. Trudeau’s also been in power a long time, and whether or not he’s got the energy to take on another four years of Trump-style curveballs is a big question.
November 22, 2024
The other big curve ball is the reality that we are in all likelihood watching the end days of Justin Trudeau’s political career. How the relationship goes with a new captain at the helm in Pierre Poilievre is a huge unknown.
In 2016, Canadians were blindsided by Trump. In 2024, we know what’s coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier. The sunny ways Trudeau used to talk about seem like a distant memory, but if Canada got through the first round, maybe we can do it again. At the very least, we’ve had some practice melting under the heat.