POTUS Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a 50-minute call on Wednesday, focusing on key issues like fentanyl smuggling and trade, per Reuters.
Discussions between both nations are set to continue throughout the day, though specific details weren’t shared. Reuters cited a Canadian source who claimed that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Vice President JD Vance were also on the call.
CTV News later cited a source whole claimed that the Trump and Trudeau phonecall got “heated” at times.
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“Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs. I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said that it’s gotten better, but I said, ‘That’s not good enough,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump claims Trudeau somehow wants ‘to stay in power’
The POTUS also claimed that Trudeau was unable to specify when the Canadian election would take place, leading him to believe that the prime minister was trying to leverage the trade “to stay in power”.
{{/usCountry}}The POTUS also claimed that Trudeau was unable to specify when the Canadian election would take place, leading him to believe that the prime minister was trying to leverage the trade “to stay in power”.
{{/usCountry}}“The call ended in a ‘somewhat’ friendly manner! He was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election is taking place, which made me curious, like, what’s going on here? I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power. Good luck, Justin!” he added.
Trudeau had previously announced in January that he would be stepping down after the Liberal Party's leadership contest this weekend, which will determine his successor. Despite this, Trump suggested that Trudeau was attempting to manipulate the situation for his own benefit.
Fentanyl trafficking has been a contentious issue between the U.S. and Canada. While Trudeau has maintained that less than 1 per cent of fentanyl and undocumented migrants entering the U.S. come through the Canadian border, Trump has dismissed these claims.
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In a follow-up Truth Social post, Trump reiterated that Canada’s efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking are “not good enough.”
However, Canada’s first ministers have agreed to reduce interprovincial trade barriers. “All First Ministers agreed that now is the time to take meaningful action to further liberalize and support the Canadian market so that goods, services, and workers can move freely,” a PMO statement read.