U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed credit for influencing the outcome of Canada’s recent federal election, saying he was “delighted” by the role he believes he played in shifting public opinion. In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump alleged that his polarizing presence helped swing the race from a Conservative landslide to a narrow Liberal minority win.
Ashley Parker, one of the journalists who interviewed Trump for the magazine, shared details on The West Block Sunday, stating, “Trump sort of gleefully said, ‘Once I became a presence in the Canadian elections, I really turned it into a close call. I kind of threw it from the Conservatives to the Liberals.’”
Although Trump’s remarks were not rooted in policy, Parker noted he seemed genuinely pleased with what he perceived as outsized influence in a foreign democracy. His comments echo a broader theme of control in the Oval Office discussion, where he also claimed, “I run the country and the world.”
Trump’s Claims Reflect Rising Political Tensions
The Canadian federal election, held just a week earlier, saw Mark Carney’s Liberals narrowly return to power after months of trailing the Conservatives in polls. Trump’s repeated attacks on Canada’s economy and sovereignty, along with his comments about annexing Canada, became central to the campaign discourse — with the Liberals ultimately seen by voters as better equipped to manage the U.S.-Canada relationship.
“You know, until I came along, remember that the Conservative was leading by 25 points,” Trump told The Atlantic. “Then I was disliked by enough of the Canadians that I’ve thrown the election into a close call.”
Trump even mocked former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying, “They didn’t like Governor Trudeau too much, and I would call him Governor Trudeau, but he wasn’t fond of that.”
For more on Canadian federal politics and international relations, visit WeeklyVoice.com and our Canada news section.
Canadian Voters React to ‘Trump Factor’
Polling data from Ipsos revealed that the Liberals gained significant ground after Trudeau’s departure and amid rising fears about Trump’s re-election. A Global News exit poll confirmed that concerns about Trump’s trade and foreign policy pushed undecided voters toward the Liberals in key battlegrounds, especially in Ontario and British Columbia.
Trump has floated the idea of Canada joining the U.S. as its 51st state before — a notion he repeated in the Oval Office interview. When The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg pointed out that such a move could result in Democratic senators from a new Canadian state, Trump replied, “I’m okay with it if it has to be.”
Upcoming Carney-Trump Summit Carries Weight
Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet Trump in Washington this week, with trade, security, and diplomatic ties high on the agenda. Carney has previously called Trump’s rhetoric “not idle threats,” warning Canadians that “our world has fundamentally changed.”
Despite Trump’s claim that a “great relationship” is possible under Carney, political observers remain skeptical. Trump’s tone may shift depending on policy negotiations, particularly on tariffs and energy exports — two issues where his administration has already signaled tough stances.
Trump’s Global Impact Noted by Journalists
Trump’s comments about Canada came up only briefly in the broader Oval Office interview, which focused on his second-term goals and foreign policy. According to Parker, Trump believes his influence extends far beyond North America.
“He is sort of making the world bend to his will and respond to his actions,” Parker told The West Block. “What Trump did with tariffs… there’s no country in the world not dealing with fallout.”
Whether Trump’s claims of election interference are bluster or belief, the political impact north of the border is real — and the consequences are now unfolding in real time between Ottawa and Washington.
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