US ambassador suggests Trump could blame Canada if midterms don’t go his way

Pete Hoekstra, a former US ambassador to Canada, has proposed that Canada could potentially bear the blame for the Republican Party's poor performance in the upcoming midterm elections. Hoekstra made this assertion during a recent closed-door meeting with business leaders, where he warned that if several swing states such as Maine and Michigan went to the Democrats, it could make it more difficult for Canada due to potential presidential blame.

Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed these claims, stating that Canada will pursue any beneficial trade deals but is not in a position to negotiate one at the moment. The ambassador has been a contentious figure in Canada due to his statements, including his assertion in 2021 that Canada's 2025 federal election was "anti-American."

A petition signed by over 225,000 Canadians called for Hoekstra's expulsion from Canada, citing his statements violating diplomatic norms. Hoekstra has further accused Canadian officials of interfering in US elections, specifically pointing to politicians criticizing the US tariffs and Ontario's anti-tariff advertisement that aired on US television.

Carney has dismissed these allegations as having "no merit" and expressed disappointment in Hoekstra's suggestion to make these allegations. Experts have criticized Hoekstra's comments, arguing that they exacerbate tensions between the two nations rather than helping to manage them.