‘Acting Like A Troll’: Jagmeet Singh Reacts To Trump’s Threats To Merge Canada With US

Last Updated:January 09, 2025, 00:10 IST

Jagmeet Singh joins Doug Ford in countering Trump who said he would use “economic force” to make Canada the 51st state of the US.

NDP’s Jagmeet Singh said while tackling with US President Donald Trump, one should “fight fire with fire”. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Left-leaning Democratic Party (NDP) chief Jagmeet Singh he would counter US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs by imposing counter tariffs.

His comments come day after Trump said he would use “economic force" to make Canada a part of the US and turn the independent nation into US’ 51st state.

Reacting to those remarks, Singh said Trump was “acting more like an internet troll than a US president".

“I’m issuing a challenge today for anyone running to be Prime Minister. I’ve committed that Canada would respond to Trump’s threats with retaliatory tariffs. That’s how you respond to a bully — with strength. You fight fire with fire to protect Canadian workers and their jobs," he said in a post, sharing a clip of an interview with a news channel.

In the video, he could be heard calling Trump “an internet troll".

Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to use economic force against Canada as he pursues his unlikely plan for the country to merge with the United States.

Asked if he would use military force, the incoming US president said “no, economic force."

“Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security."

There is not a “snowball’s chance in hell" that Canada will merge with the United States, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday, while his foreign minister added the country will “never back down" from threats by Donald Trump.

Earlier, Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered to buy two states of the US while countering Donald Trump, who on Tuesday’s press conference threatened military action to secure the Panama Canal, and Greenland.

He has previously vowed to slap 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports when he takes office on January 20, which could be devastating for Canada as it sends 75 percent of its exports to the United States.

Asked if he would use military force to bring Canada to heel, the incoming president said “no, economic force."

Ottawa, Canada

News world ‘Acting Like A Troll’: Jagmeet Singh Reacts To Trump’s Threats To Merge Canada With US