U.S. President Donald Trump with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok/Flickr)
President Donald Trump started the trade war with Canada when he imposed new tariffs in Feb. 2025. But now, Trump's ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, is telling the country Trump could try and blame them if the GOP loses on Nov. 3.
CTV news reported Wednesday that three sources confirmed Hoekstra "delivered the message at a private business lunch hosted at his official residence in Ottawa."
There he specifically cited Michigan and Maine as possible GOP Senate losses. Those two seats are integral to the GOP remaining in control of the U.S. Senate. The business crowd was told that if those states fell to Democrats, then Trump "will not be happy and Canada could be blamed."
When asked for comment, an embassy spokesperson said the “reported comments are grossly taken out of context from a broader discussion." They refused to reveal what the broader discussion was, however.
“The ambassador has consistently said that the Canadian media is attempting to overstate the relevance of Canadian issues in American elections. As we have previously stated, Americans will decide American elections based on issues that are important to them,” the spokesperson continued.
Canadian American Business Council CEO Beth Burke, who organized the event, also said the comments were "taken out of context." The "overall message," she said, was positive about the Canadian and U.S. relationship.
While the embassy claims "Canadian issues" are not a concern for Americans, people on the ground in Michigan and Maine have said for months that Trump's feud has significantly reduced tourism that brings in revenue to communities and raised costs for families.
Wall Howard cited a Forbes magazine report from February that said the loss of tourism from Canada to the U.S. has cost the American economy roughly $4.5 billion. They used data from the U.S. Travel Association and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Travel and Tourism Office.
Deputy Mayor Greg Grimes has been boycotting the U.S. and he knows that he's not the only one in his community doing it.
The Wall Street Journal spoke with Port Huron City Manager James Freed, a conservative Republican,whosaid he thought Canadians were more concerned about the exchange rate, and that's why they weren't coming into the U.S. as much.
Grimes called that "dismissive" of Canadians' concerns.
“The 51st state rhetoric, the ‘we want to take you over’ and recent stuff with the Gordie Howe Bridge. That’s where it hurts me and all Canadians,” he said.
There's also a concern that anyone who crosses into the U.S. from Canada could be subject to being snatched up by ICE and thrown into detention for months.
It has become clear to Trump that his ongoing feud is putting Maine's Senate race in danger. Last week, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump would drop some tariffs against Canada in a desperate effort to save Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). The report cited a 50 percent tariff that would be removed on Canadian products. Those familiar with the action confirmed it was specifically to help Collins.
But the move is coming less than two weeks before the election. The trade war has gone on for nearly 21 months.
"Hoekstra’s remarks are the latest in a string of statements seeking to deflect blame for Trump’s poor polling and unpopular tariff policy away from the White House," CTV News said. "In the last few weeks, he accused Ottawa of election interference and warned Canada to 'keep your nose out.'"