Canadian Public Trust Collapses Amid Trump Tariff Threats

Public perception of the United States has deteriorated significantly in Canada, with 55% of citizens now identifying the U.S. as the greatest risk to their national security, surpassing China and Russia. This shift follows a series of escalating tensions between Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, characterized by Trump's threats to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods and his vows to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The friction intensified after Carney criticized the U.S.-led international order as a "fiction" and established a strategic partnership with China covering energy, agriculture, and trade. Trump responded by withdrawing Canada's invitation to the Board of Peace and claiming that allowing Canada to become a "Drop Off Port" for Chinese goods would destroy the nation's social fabric. In response to this volatility, the Canadian government introduced a defense-industrial strategy to reduce reliance on U.S. military contractors, while Carney sought to unite other "middle powers" through new security and trade partnerships.

Polling data reflects deep societal unrest, with 76% of Canadians viewing American tariffs as an economic threat and 55% boycotting U.S. goods. Furthermore, 48% of respondents now perceive the U.S. as a greater threat to world peace than Russia. While 57% of Canadians approve of the Carney government's response to the crisis, domestic approval for regional leaders varies, with British Columbia Premier David Eby maintaining majority support while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds the lowest approval rating.