Fact-Checking Trump’s Lies About Canada by Alicia

LIE NUMBER 1

Trump has said that Canada ‘would make a great state. And the people of Canada like it’.

FACT CHECK 1

This couldn’t be further from the truth. A poll done in December of 2024 said that 82% of Canadians do not like the idea of being the 51st state. Our politicians on both sides of the aisle have put out negative statements about this idea.

LIE NUMBER 2

Trump has claimed that the USA has a ‘US$200 or $250 billion’ trade deficit with Canada.

FACT CHECK 2

USA government data shows that the trade in goods deficit with Canada in 2024 was US$55 billion. When technology or finance services are factored in, the deficit falls further. Finally, if Canada’s energy exports are excluded, the favour actually falls to the USA.

LIE NUMBER 3

Trump says that the tariffs are needed to penalize Canada for allowing an ‘invasion’ of drugs and undocumented migrants into the USA.

FACT CHECK 3

USA government data shows that only 1.5 percent of migrants arrested in 2024, and 0.2 percent of fentanyl caught at the border in 2024, originated in Canada. Canada has also tightened security on its border regarding the import and export of illegal drugs.

LIE NUMBER 4

Trump says that Canada does not allow American banks into the country.

FACT CHECK 4

The Canadian Banker’s Association has put out a statement that ‘There are 16 USA based bank subsidiaries and branches with around CAD$113 billion in assets currently operating in Canada’. A partial list is below:

Amex Bank

Citibank

J.P. Morgan Bank

Bank of America, National Association

Bank of New York Mellon

Capital One, National Association

Citibank, National Association

Fifth Third Bank, National Association

M&T Bank

Northern Trust Company

LIE NUMBER 5

Trump has claimed that if Canada was part of the USA, it would be secure from the threat of Russian and Chinese ships (????).

FACT CHECK 5

Canada, has never been surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships, either constantly or at all. Some Russian and Chinese military ships have been seen around Alaska, and have been intercepted by Canada or the USA militaries. In fact, Chinese ships have come much closer to the USA than to Canada.

LIE NUMBER 6

Trump has stated that we do not contribute enough to NATO defense spending and that we spend the least of any NATO country.

FACT CHECK 6

Canada was 5th lowest in 2024 out of the 31 members with a standing army. However, if the size of the country’s economy isn’t taken into consideration, we are the 8th highest out of the 31 members. Canada has been identified as one of the ‘biggest spenders on military stuff’ by Director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network Stephen Saideman. Canada is expected to hit the 2% mark in 2032, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

substack.com/home/post/p-15855…

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