Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae has made headlines with pointed criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to tariffs and his provocative remarks about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state. Speaking on Fox News to host Bret Baier, Rae implored Trump to ‘move on’ from this rhetoric and focus more on substantial issues affecting both nations.
"We’re not the 51st state. We’re a sovereign, independent country. Our leader deserves to be treated with respect, and we deserve to be treated with respect," Rae asserted, emphasizing the importance of Canadian sovereignty. His comments come at a time when tensions are still simmering over trade agreements and tariffs, especially following Trump’s recent threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods.
This interview occurred just hours after Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reached consensus to delay these tariff impositions for 30 days. While both leaders hailed this development initially, Rae revealed his skepticism about the effectiveness of the negotiations, stating, "It’s not true" Canada made significant new promises. He pointed out many proposed spending items had been previously announced, arguing there was nothing revolutionary about the deal struck between the two leaders.
Trump, meanwhile, touted the agreement as a step toward enhancing border security and addressing issues such as the influx of drug trafficking. He expressed satisfaction with the negotiations, mentioning Canadian cooperation as pivotal for ensuring border safety and curbing illegal drug trade. Nevertheless, Rae remained unconvinced, describing the situation as merely minor concessions by Canada.
Rae’s criticisms have not sat well with some conservative U.S. figures. Richard Grenell, Trump’s special envoy, condemned Rae’s remarks as "imploding," signaling how his commentary has ignited furious responses from Trump supporters. David Asher, affiliated with the Hudson Institute, went so far as to call Rae’s comments "beyond outrageous," questioning the appropriateness of his criticisms after Trump made what he perceived to be fair concessions.
On social media, reactions continued to pour in, fueled by Rae's insistence on addressing America's portrayal of trade figures. Challenging the narrative of U.S. trade deficits with Canada, he claimed, "I don’t see the number as being a deficit," favoring instead to highlight the intertwined economic relationships across borders.
Referring to the auto industry, Rae commented, "There is no such thing as ‘an American car’ or ‘a Canadian car’." He hoped to shift the dialogue back toward mutual economic benefits instead of focusing on tariffs, which he characterized as detrimental to both the Canadian and U.S. economies. He described tariffs as "a major threat to the economic security of both our country and yours," promoting the idea of long-term trading relationship discussions devoid of arbitrary increases or decreases.
Baier, during the Fox News segment, reviewed past remarks by Rae, including statements from 2017 wherein Rae expressed his opposition to Trump’s visits to Canada. Rae acknowledged his previous sentiments, asserting his opinion has not changed owing to the consistent patterns he sees from Trump’s administration.
He clarified, "It’s not a personal thing about President Trump. The concern we have is... decisions... create insecurity, uncertainty, and real collapses in the market." This urgent appeal by Rae highlights growing frustration with Trump's continued fixation on using tariffs as tools of foreign policy rather than establishing constructive dialogues for bilateral relations.
Overall, the diplomatic rhetoric marks another chapter of complex negotiations between the U.S. and Canada, raising pressing questions about trade practices and national respect. With Rae’s emphasis on Canada’s sovereignty and calls for dignified treatment on the international stage, how this dynamic plays out remains to be seen.