Trump Backs Six Foreign Leaders While U.S. Accuses Canada

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa accused Canadian officials of interfering in the upcoming November 3 midterms, a claim that contrasts with President Donald Trump's recent support for candidates in five other nations. The embassy released a fact sheet on Wednesday detailing four specific instances it labeled as potential interference. These include comments by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly on trade strategy and a billboard campaign run by the federal government in early 2025.

Since returning to the White House in early 2025, Trump has endorsed leaders or candidates in Poland, Honduras, Colombia, Japan, and Israel. He also supported Viktor Orbán’s failed re-election bid in Hungary, an effort that saw Vice-President JD Vance attend a rally in Budapest. During a February meeting of his Board of Peace, Trump acknowledged his unusual practice. “I’m not supposed to be endorsing people,” he said. “As long as it works, it’s OK with me.”

Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, described the U.S. position as the pot calling the kettle black. “The truth is that this administration has had a long track record of intervening directly into the elections of official allies,” Drezner said. He noted that heads of state typically avoid overt campaigning in foreign elections to maintain flexibility in future business relationships.

Former U.S. ambassador to Canada James Blanchard criticized the current administration’s credibility in an interview airing Sunday. “If this accusation had come from the Reagan administration or the Bush administration or the Obama administration, the Clinton administration, I would take it seriously,” Blanchard said. “But I can’t from this current administration.” The embassy declined to comment when asked if a Canadian official offering a similar endorsement would also constitute interference.

Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the accusations 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 expressed disappointment that Ambassador Pete Hoekstra viewed making such suggestions as part of his role. Carney also stated he does not expect the administration to blame Canada for poor midterm results or impose further tariffs.

The trade conflict has influenced the campaign environment in border states. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has represented Maine since 1997, said Friday that she secured exemptions from some tariffs. In a 30-second ad released earlier this month, Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers argued that Canada is not an enemy and that the tariff war must end. The embassy’s report followed warnings from Hoekstra and Trump adviser Peter Navarro that Canada should stay out of the U.S. election.

The embassy’s list also cited Liberal MP Anthony Housefather canvassing for a Florida Democrat during a primary earlier this year. Drezner called this instance slightly unusual but described other meetings between Canadian and American politicians as standard diplomacy. Joly has pushed back, noting she has met with both Republicans and Democrats in recent months.