Analyst Warns of Brewing Danger as Trump Targets Canada
Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, has been ramping up his bold threats against Canada’s economy and sovereignty, raising concerns that “something dangerous is brewing,” according to a U.S. political analyst.
David Frum, a veteran writer for The Atlantic with decades of experience covering American politics, doesn’t think Trump genuinely wants to turn Canada into a U.S. state. However, Frum warns that Trump’s repeated mention of the idea signals he may be planning some form of aggressive action.
“If you’re living with a mentally unstable partner and he says something like, ‘I’m going to push you down the stairs,’ it might not mean he’s literally planning to do that,” Frum explained during an interview with Mercedes Stephenson on The West Block that aired Sunday.
“But if he then follows up with, ‘I’m going to chop you up with a knife,’ he might not be speaking literally either—yet you’d better have a plan. It’s clear something dangerous is building, and you need to take it seriously.”
“Is this a clear indication of aggression and hostility toward Canada? It certainly seems that way,” Frum concluded.
Trump stunned international allies last week during a press conference where he refused to rule out using military action to take control of Greenland from Denmark, a NATO ally, as well as the Panama Canal.
He also said he’d use “economic force” to compel Canada to join the U.S. and get rid of the “artificially drawn line” between the two countries, dismissed the need for Canadian imports like cars and dairy, and once again threatened “substantial tariffs” on Canadian goods that would damage the Canadian economy.
Trump has remained firm on his threat to impose 25% tariffs, initially tying them to demands for stronger border security—an issue the Canadian government has tried to address.
According to Frum, Canadians should prepare for this “tariff aggression,” which Trump could enforce through several unilateral actions, including declaring a national emergency to justify the move.
In a related development, Trudeau dismissed the idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, saying, “That’s not going to happen.”
Frum also noted that Canada could feel the ripple effects of Trump’s aggressive stance toward Latin American allies, particularly Mexico.
Trump, along with Vice President-elect JD Vance, has expressed plans to use the U.S. military against Mexican drug cartels to curb the flow of dangerous narcotics—actions that could be interpreted as acts of war.
Additionally, Frum warned that Canada might soon face an influx of people fleeing potential deportation from the U.S., as Trump continues to push his crackdown on illegal immigration and undocumented residents.
“The real immigration challenge facing North America today is Americans moving to Canada,” he stated.
“If you can make it to the border and simply cross over, you can take advantage of Canada’s more lenient policies.”
Frum noted that as Trump heads into a potential second term, both he and his inner circle seem to harbor a “more deeply rooted animosity” toward U.S. allies and institutions. This, he emphasized, will demand a fresh strategy from the Canadian government.
David Frum believes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government did a commendable job managing U.S. relations during Donald Trump’s first term. By balancing strategic concessions with rallying allies, Trudeau navigated a challenging diplomatic landscape effectively. However, Frum warns that the same approach might not work if Trump returns to power.
“During Trump’s first term, disrupting North America wasn’t a top priority for him. In a second term, it very well could be,” Frum said.
He described Trump’s worldview as one rooted in dominance, rejecting notions of collective security. “He doesn’t believe in collaboration or mutual benefit. For him, it’s about domination or being dominated, and his goal is for the United States to dominate because that’s the only dynamic he understands.”
As Trudeau prepares to step down in March after a new Liberal Party leader is selected, Frum emphasized that his successor must be ready to consider every possible strategy for dealing with Trump, no matter how unconventional.
“You need to gather a dozen seasoned civil servants, national security experts, and provincial officials and tell them, ‘There are no bad ideas. Let’s hear them all,'” Frum advised.
He stressed the importance of having a backup plan. “Conciliation and partnership should always be Plan A, but you absolutely need a Plan B—one that’s more radical. It has to account for the possibility that this president won’t be interested in conciliation and can’t be appeased with concessions.”