Ottawa's U.S. Embassy: Trump Endorses Six Foreign Leaders While Canada Accused of Midterm Meddling

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet on Wednesday that lists four specific Canadian actions as potential interference in the U.S. midterm elections.

The document cites comments by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly regarding counter-tariff strategies, some dating back to March 2025, and her meetings with American politicians.

It also references Liberal MP Anthony Housefather canvassing for a Florida Democrat during a primary earlier this year.

The list includes the Ontario government’s Ronald Reagan advertisement and a federal billboard campaign from early 2025.

Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed the claims during a news conference in Istanbul on Friday.

“There is no merit to these claims, so I’ll call it out that way,” Carney said.

He added that he is disappointed in Ambassador Pete Hoekstra for making such suggestions.

President Donald Trump has endorsed candidates in Poland, Honduras, Colombia, and Japan since returning to the White House in early 2025.

He recently voiced support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of an election on Tuesday.

Trump also backed former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s failed re-election bid, with Vice President JD Vance appearing at a rally in Budapest.

In Argentina, Trump suggested a financial support package would depend on the result for President Javier Milei’s party.

Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, called the situation the pot calling the kettle black in an interview with CBC News in February of this year, though the comments reflect current analysis of the track record beginning in early 2025. He stated that this administration has a long history of intervening in the elections of allies. He noted that heads of state typically avoid weighing in on foreign elections to maintain business flexibility with whichever party wins. He described Joly’s meetings as garden variety diplomacy, while calling Housefather’s canvassing slightly unusual. Bernadette Jordan, Canada’s consul general in Boston, also met with American politicians, which Drezner included in his assessment of standard diplomatic practice. Joly stated she has met with both Republicans and Democrats in recent months. Former U.S. ambassador to Canada James Blanchard told Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday that the administration has no credibility given these endorsements. He said he would take the accusations seriously if they came from the Reagan, Bush, Obama, or Clinton administrations, but not this one. The U.S. Embassy declined to comment when asked if a similar endorsement by a Canadian official would constitute interference. Trump also wrote on social media during the 2025 Canadian campaign that he would rather deal with a liberal than a conservative. Barack Obama endorsed Justin Trudeau in 2019 and 2021, and Bernie Sanders backed Jagmeet Singh in 2021, but Drezner noted those leaders were not in the executive branch at the time. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in January that Alberta would be a natural partner for the U.S. while discussing a separation referendum. Republican operatives were on the ground in Alberta earlier this year to support the separatist campaign, according to The Globe and Mail. Senate Republican Susan Collins said on Friday that she secured exemptions to tariffs on social media. She said she will continue working with administration officials to seek relief and encourage a trade agreement with Canada. Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate for Michigan’s open Senate seat, released a 30-second ad earlier this month criticizing tariffs. He said in the ad that Canada is not an enemy and that the tariff war needs to end. Carney said on Friday that he does not see the administration blaming Canada for poor midterm results and slapping more tariffs on exports.