Poilievre Tells Trump to Stay Out After President Implies Canadians Should Vote for Him

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre firmly told U.S. President Donald Trump to keep out of Canada’s federal election after Trump appeared to suggest Canadians should back him at the polls.

“President Trump, stay out of our election. The future of Canada will be decided only by Canadians at the ballot box,” Poilievre wrote in a social media post.

Trump had earlier posted on his Truth Social platform, wishing “Good luck to the Great people of Canada,” before urging them to support the candidate who would “cut your taxes in half, build up your military for free, and grow your industries without tariffs or taxes — if Canada becomes the 51st state of the United States.”

He repeated his claim that the U.S. supposedly subsidizes Canada with “hundreds of billions of dollars annually,” a statement that has been widely debunked.

In response, Poilievre emphasized Canada’s sovereignty: “Canada is, and always will be, a proud, independent nation. We will NEVER be the 51st state.”

He called on Canadians to vote for real change, one that would allow Canada to stand stronger on its own and push back against external pressure.

Trump’s remarks reopened tensions from his previous trade disputes with Canada, where tariffs and sovereignty threats became central issues during the 36-day campaign.

The controversy deepened last week when Radio-Canada reported that Trump had raised the idea of Canada becoming a U.S. state in a phone conversation with Liberal Leader Mark Carney on March 28. Carney later faced questions over why he did not disclose Trump’s suggestion at the time, instead claiming Trump respected Canada’s sovereignty.

When asked recently by Time magazine whether his comments about Canada were just trolling, Trump insisted they were serious: “I’m really not trolling. Canada is an interesting case. The only way it truly works is if Canada becomes a U.S. state.”

In a separate Fox News interview, Trump said he might prefer working with a Liberal over a Conservative, criticizing Poilievre without naming him: “The Conservative that’s running said negative things about me. I don’t know him, but he’s no friend of mine.”

Despite Trump’s intervention, Poilievre stood firm: Canada’s future will be determined by Canadians — and Canadians alone.