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The Liberal Party, earlier headed by Justin Trudeau, was on course for a defeat in Canada with high inflation, unemployment and a housing crisis. But everything changed in the 100 days since Donald Trump took over as US President and issued taunts and threats. Canada voted for the Liberals, led by Mike Carney, and people are roasting Trump.
Canadian PM Mike Carney hit back at President Trump’s "51st state" comment, declaring Canada won’t “yield” to it. (Image: Reuters)
"Pierre Poilievre is literally Trump," read a post on X on April 9. The comment captured the mood of the Canadian electorate during the federal elections — one that saw Poilievre's right-wing politics appear similar to that of US President Donald Trump's. This was at a time when Trump had resumed his tirades and tariffs against Canada. It wasn’t just political unease — it was a genuine fear that Canada could become the "51st state of the US".
Just months earlier, few would have predicted this outcome. The Conservative Party under Poilievre had appeared to hold an insurmountable lead in the polls. Widespread disillusionment with the Trudeau government — fuelled by a housing crisis, growing unemployment, and debates over immigration — had positioned the Conservatives as clear front-runners.
The results of the April 28 election in Canada showed the Liberal Party of Mark Carney, who took over from the highly unpopular Justin Trudeau in March, all set to form the next government. The Liberals were poised to win 168 of the seats, just short of a majority of 172. Poilievre's Conservatives were at 144.
"Trump won the election for the liberals in Canada," wrote a person on X, summing up the mood.
As Trump was marking his first 100 days in office, his biggest gift might have been handing the election in Canada to the Liberals.
"The only thing Trump did in his first 100 days was unite Canada," said Alex Cole, a Los Angeles, California-based software engineer and pilot.
TRUMP SHADOW LOOMED LARGE AS CANADIANS CAST THEIR VOTE
Even as Canadians went to the polls, the spectre of Trump hovered in the background.
"Good luck to the Great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the world... QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America... It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!," Trump posted on Truth Social.
The US President referred to the US-Canada border as "artificially drawn", stoking alarm north of the border.
His repeated attacks on America’s northern neighbour and his provocative remarks about "taking over" Canada since his return to office in January had altered the course of the election. It became a turning point for Canada’s centre-left Liberal Party.
In his victory speech, Liberal leader Carney framed his win as a stand against Trump.
"President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, ever happen," he said, drawing applause. His words reflected a broader sentiment—of the need to "unite Canada" in the face of an external threat.
But the tides shifted. Carney, an economist and former central banker, came to be seen as the steady hand Canada needed to steer clear of economic turmoil and a looming recession.
Following Trudeau’s resignation in early 2025, the Conservatives had led the Liberals by 20 points. Now, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Liberals have surged ahead with 43.7 percent support, surpassing the Conservatives’ 36.3 percent.
The results have led many to point to one factor that changed everything: Trump.
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the UK, said, "100 days on from Trump's inauguration, and following last night's results in Canada, one thing is clear: Licking his boots has consequences."
CANADIANS, AMERICANS DISCUSS TRUMP FACTOR IN CANADA
People in the US and Canada took to social media to discuss the Trump impact on the polls.
"Canada's Liberal Party won last night because Trump united independents against the right-wing populist who modeled his rhetoric and style after him. Trump's incessant prattle about annexing Canada is the reason why the Conservative Party's 25-point lead was wiped out," a person wrote on X.
Some even argued how conservatives paved the way for Liberal victory by focusing on Trump and not liberals.
"Trump didn’t lose Canada. The Conservatives foolishly botched it by making the election about Trump instead of the Liberals," shared Election Wizard on X.
"A defiant Canada responded to Trump taunts by delivering huge win to previously doomed Liberal Party and Prime Minister Mark Carney," shared another person.
Americans also shared their opinion on Liberals' Trump factor.
"The impact of an unpopular American president on a foreign election is stunning. We’ve never seen anything like the seismic political shift Trump triggered in Canada to deliver a stunning Liberal win," wrote Matt McDermott, a Democrat pollster on X.
But to some, there was more nuance to why Liberals could win the elections.
"The Conservatives in Canada are going to blame all their issues on President Trump because they can’t look in the mirror. Truth is, the Conservative Party was fake, inauthentic and lost their base. More importantly, they became indistinguishable from the Liberal Party," a person wrote on X.
Trump, by virtue of being the US President, is the most powerful person in the world. His reciprocal tariffs and deportation of illegal immigrants has impacted every country. But nowhere has the impact been felt more than in Canada, where an entire election swung because of his taunts and rhetoric.
Published On:
Apr 29, 2025
