Canadian MP Slams Trump’s Tariffs: He’s Like ‘Al Capone in Syphilitic Period Trying To Do a Shakedown’

KEILAR: “There are also Republicans here in farm states concerned about ingredients for fertilizers that come from Canada as well. There are a myriad of products that we are just learning about as Americans. Fascinating, although perhaps not under duress to learn about them. He’s obviously looking for some kind of concession. You hear him, he talks about Colombia, he’s talking about Mexico and the 10,000 Mexican troops. And I know you view him as unreasonable, to say the least here, but do you think that ultimately Canada might end up conceding or is that not even a possibility?”

ANGUS: “Well, I think the issue is, is that Donald Trump is claiming Canada is a narco state. The man’s a liar. So, would we put some more money on the border? Sure. I’d love to put more money on the border to keep American guns from shooting our people on the streets. We would do that to avoid a trade war. We’re reasonable as Canadians. But when you have somebody threatening our sovereignty, well, we’re hunkering down for a fight here. So yes, for people in the grain growing belts, potash from Canada is essential, for the tech people. Critical minerals, we’ve already had our BC premier talk about shutting off the critical mineral flow. Would you need that? But the big issue, and I think it was raised by some of your previous panelists, auto, the auto sector is so integrated that within a week, even without the retaliatory trade pressure from Canada, you’ll start to see Lansing, Toledo, Bowling Green start to sputter and go down because this is just-in-time delivery. Our whole North American economy is based on this. So that Donald Trump thinks that Canada is his biggest enemy, the guy wouldn’t stand up to Putin. He gives a feather to China, but he’s going to pick a fight with us? Well, if that’s the way it’s going to be, we will be there pound for pound, it’s going to hurt us a lot. But the American people are much more divided than we are right now and we are unified. So, we wait to see what comes next.”

KEILAR: “We’re going to see this call or hope to see soon what comes of it. It’s supposed to take place in about 45 minutes. Would you say, then, that Canada is going to call his bluff, or is already calling his bluff?”

ANGUS: “Well, we’ve already announced, I think, $125 billion in retaliatory tariffs. We will give 21 days pause so that our companies can start to retool before we launch the next level. We’ve already started pulling off a lot of American products off the shelves prior to this. I’m hoping that our Prime Minister will cut a deal. I think with Donald, it’s so important that he looks like he’s won something. I mean, this isn’t gunboat diplomacy. This is really, I don’t know, like Al Capone in his syphilitic period trying to do a shakedown. So yeah, we’ll make concessions on something that, you know, he can write a press release about. But on key areas, Canadians would, I think, would hunt our leaders down if they bowed and kissed the ring to the man from Mar-a-Lago. It’s not going to happen. So, we shall see. I’m hoping that we can get through this and get back to work with our American cousins.”