Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump after being criticized not being a “MAGA guy.”
“Mr. President, it is true. I am not MAGA. I am for Canada First. Always,” wrote Poilievre in a post on X.
He added that while Canada has always been the United States’ best friend and ally, it would never become the 51st state.
“We will bear any burden and pay any price to protect the sovereignty and independence of our country,” said Poilievre in a video clip from his Canada First speech, which he embedded in his X post.
Poilievre’s quick response follows Trump taking a swipe at Poilievre during an interview with The Spectator, where he shared his views about the Conservative leader for the first time publicly.
Following the Conservatives in Canada experiencing a drop in the polls, Trump was asked whether he thought the party would still win.
Trump said Poilievre’s “biggest problem is he’s not a MAGA guy, you know?”
The president has continuously referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Governor Trudeau and suggested that Canada will become the 51st state, pay less taxes, and get better security.
Trump was asked whether he viewed Poilievre as “more of a throwback Republican.”
“He’s… different. Make it a big mistake. They all make that mistake. You know. They think they’re going to be the tough guy, and they’re going to knock out Trump, and they end up getting the hell beat out of ’em,” said Trump. “So I don’t know. I mean, I can’t tell you, Pierre. I just don’t know. I don’t like what he’s saying about me. It’s just not positive about me.”
Trump was asked about Poilievre weeks ago after he suggested annexing Canada and Greenland. At the time, the president said he didn’t know who Poilievre was.
The president’s latest deadline for his shifting tariff threats against Canada has reverted to Mar. 4 after being pushed back to Apr. 2 just days prior. Trump said that fentanyl importation was the reason for the expedited tariffs.
Ben Shapiro, a longtime supporter of Trump, recently criticized the president for threatening steep tariffs on Canadian goods.
“I still don’t understand why we’re levying 25% tariffs on Canada. I’ve got to be honest with you. I don’t understand that one,” said Shapiro in a Facebook post. “In fact, I think we should have a much higher tariff on China because China is an actual geopolitical enemy. But I don’t understand what exactly we’re trying to pry out of the Canadians.”
Poilievre has been resolute in his stance on implementing retaliatory tariffs on American goods.
“You can carry out an unprovoked attack on our economy, your consumers will pay more and your workers will make less,” Poilievre said in his Canada First speech. “Gas prices will skyrocket. You will turn a loyal friend into a resentful neighbour, forced to match tariff with tariff and to seek friends everywhere else. Both our economies will weaken, leaving less money for defence and security and our enemies will grow stronger.”