G7 summit: Trump's Trudeau jibes bring Canadians and Americans together
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Canadians are reeling after US President Donald Trump's latest jibes against their leader Justin Trudeau.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump continued his war of words against Mr Trudeau, saying the Canadian leader's stance against the US would cost his Canada "a lot of money".
Mr Trump had earlier posted a string of tweets attacking Mr Trudeau's personality just hours after leaving the divisive G7 summit in Quebec.
"[He] acted so meek and mild," he said. "Very dishonest and weak."
Mr Trump's latest comments have elicited many apologies from Americans who disagree with his hard-line approach.
Actor Robert De Niro, who was in Canada for a restaurant opening, apologised to a crowd for "the idiotic behaviour of my president".
"I apologise to Justin Trudeau and the other people at the G7," he said as the crowd cheered in Toronto.
Even the city's mayor John Tory thanked the actor for his remarks.
On social media #ThanksCanada was trending, as Americans online expressed their gratitude for their northern neighbour and distanced themselves from their president.
My Fellow Americans, let's all #ThankCanada for things we love they've brought to our lives. I'll start: #ThanksCanada for @NeilYoung, @SCTV, @JoniMitchellcom, @Drake, #LeonardCohen, @celinedion, @KITHOnline. The Pursuit Of Happiness featuring @moeTPOH. Also hockey is cool. pic.twitter.com/Ec9GZBwbmA
— David Wild (@Wildaboutmusic) June 10, 2018
#ThanksCanada You welcomed us with open arms when we wanted to marry and could not in the US. pic.twitter.com/7LGhNxPhaN
— Carrie TuckerPollard (@MsBrnEyes55) June 11, 2018
Mr Trump's comments continue to provide fodder for columnists from some of Canada's top newspapers.
"The strongest bilateral relationship in the world is in a ditch and there's no clear way to get out," wrote Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente.
"Reasoning and logic won't help. You might as well try to reason with a two-tonne two-year old with a tantrum."
A columnist for La Presse, another French-language daily, said Canada's relationship with the US has never been so threatened in the country's modern history.
"Unlike those who preceded him in recent decades, Donald Trump is no friend to Canada," writes Alexandre Sirois.
"He does not wish us well."
In Maclean's magazine, columnist Scott Gilmore called on Canadians to hit Mr Trump "where it hurts" by boycotting his businesses.
Mr Trump's insults even managed to unite Canada's political parties, spurring Mr Trudeau's political enemies leapt to his defence.
On Monday, members of Parliament in Canada's House of Commons unanimously passed a motion in support of retaliatory measures against the US metals tariffs and to "reject disparaging and ad hominem statements by US officials which do a disservice to bilateral relations and work against efforts to resolve this trade dispute".
The leader of Canada's opposition Conservative Party accused the US of "divisive rhetoric and personal attacks".
This G7 meeting shows that united support for free trade is at serious risk.
— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) June 10, 2018
Canada’s Conservatives continue to support the Prime Minister’s efforts to make the case for free trade. Divisive rhetoric and personal attacks from the US administration are clearly unhelpful.
Doug Ford, who was recently elected premier of Ontario, tweeted his support for Mr Trudeau.
We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister and the people of Canada. My number one goal is to protect jobs in Ontario, starting with my unwavering support for our steel and aluminum workers.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) June 10, 2018
Jason Kenney, the leader of the United Conservative Party, and leader of the opposition in the province of Alberta, tweeted out an old clip of former president Ronald Reagan saying that America's peaceful allies "are not our enemies".
“Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies. They are our allies. We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends, weakening our economy, our national security, & the entire free world.” Wise words from a great American President pic.twitter.com/YhfOLurJAG
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) June 11, 2018
Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May said that all Canadian leaders should rally behind Mr Trudeau.
All Canadian leaders need to support Trudeau. Trump's outbursts, tariffs, amount to bullying. Trudeau is handling it as best anyone could.
— Elizabeth May (@ElizabethMay) June 10, 2018
The spat began shortly after the G7 summit concluded, when Mr Trudeau gave a press conference vowing retaliatory action next month over US tariffs on steel and aluminium.
Mr Trump then unleashed a series of tweets personally attacking the Canadian PM.
Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2018
PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, “US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he “will not be pushed around.” Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2018
Those first tweets spurred most Canadian newspapers to run angry editorials denouncing Mr Trump.
"He sulked his way through the first part of the meeting, gave his delegation the OK to sign the summit's pallid final communiqué, then threw a hissy fit and tore it up," the Toronto Star said.
"It was both dishonest and amateurish."
The newspaper said Mr Trump "chose to make up his own facts" about tariffs and trade.
The Globe and Mail newspaper was equally strong, branding the spat "one of the most flagrant manufactured crises ever perpetrated by an American administration against an ally".
"Mr Trump set an antagonistic tone for the summit by announcing, just prior to it, steep tariffs on Canadian and European steel and aluminium," it said.
French language daily Le Journal de Montreal said Mr Trudeau "became the scapegoat of Donald Trump and his advisers".
Mr Trump kept up his rhetoric from Singapore, where he is attending a summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un, condemning allies for the level of their payments towards Nato.
Why should I, as President of the United States, allow countries to continue to make Massive Trade Surpluses, as they have for decades, while our Farmers, Workers & Taxpayers have such a big and unfair price to pay? Not fair to the PEOPLE of America! $800 Billion Trade Deficit...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2018
....And add to that the fact that the U.S. pays close to the entire cost of NATO-protecting many of these same countries that rip us off on Trade (they pay only a fraction of the cost-and laugh!). The European Union had a $151 Billion Surplus-should pay much more for Military!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2018
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