Trump backed six foreign leaders while U.S. accused Canada of election meddling

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet on Wednesday listing four Canadian actions that it said could amount to potential interference in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The release arrived amid a sharp diplomatic dispute over trade and electoral influence. The embassy pointed to Liberal MP Anthony Housefather canvassing for a Florida Democrat, comments from Industry Minister Melanie Joly, an Ontario government television ad featuring Ronald Reagan, and a federal billboard campaign from early 2025.

President Donald Trump has publicly supported presidential or prime ministerial candidates in Poland, Honduras, Colombia, and Japan since returning to the White House in early 2025. He also voiced support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an election on Tuesday. Trump further backed the failed re-election bid of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a campaign that saw Vice President JD Vance attend a rally in Budapest. The president also suggested that financial support for Argentina would depend on the election results for President Javier Milei's party.

Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, described the U.S. accusation as a case of the pot calling the kettle black. He noted that the administration has a long history of intervening directly in the elections of allied nations. Drezner stated that Housefather's canvassing might be slightly unusual, but meetings between Joly and American politicians amount to standard diplomatic practice.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada James Blanchard told Rosemary Barton Live that the administration lacks credibility due to Trump's public endorsements. Blanchard said he would take the accusation seriously if it came from previous administrations, but he cannot accept it from the current one. The embassy declined to comment when asked whether a similar endorsement from a Canadian official would constitute interference.

Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the claims during a news conference in Istanbul on Friday. He said there is no merit to the accusations and expressed disappointment that U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra sees making such suggestions as part of his role. Carney did not see the administration blaming Canada for a poor midterm result and imposing further tariffs.

The trade conflict has become a central issue for Republican candidates in border states. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, said she secured exemptions to tariffs and will continue working with administration officials. Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate for Michigan's open Senate seat, released a 30-second ad criticizing the tariff war and stating that Canada is not an enemy.

Trump officials also took an interest in the recent Alberta referendum. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Alberta as a natural partner for the U.S. in January. Reports indicate that Republican political operatives were on the ground in Alberta earlier this year to assist the separatist campaign, and separatists attended meetings at the State Department last year.