US president Donald Trump said on Wednesday he doesn’t want Canadian cars and claimed Canada would “cease to exist” without the United States — remarks that extend his sharp criticism of the country just days before Canadians head to the polls on Monday.
“We don’t really want Canada to make cars for us, to put it bluntly. We want to make our own cars,” Trump said. Trump also suggested that he might increase import taxes on cars from Canada.
“So when I put tariffs on Canada, they’re paying 25%, but that could go up in terms of cars. When we put tariffs on, all we’re doing is we’re saying, ‘We don’t want your cars, in all due respect.”
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Mark Carney, who became Liberal leader last year, has focused his campaign on strengthening Canada’s internal economy and national unity. “We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can ever take away,” Carney said, promising to eliminate domestic trade barriers by July 1.
Trump’s repeated actions may have unintentionally galvanised support for Carney, sparking a wave of Canadian nationalism. As tensions with the US deepen, many voters now view Carney as a steady hand capable of protecting Canadian interests and sovereignty.
Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian goods imposed in March 2025, along with threats of further levies, were widely seen as an economic attack on Canada, threatening jobs and national stability. He also repeatedly mocked Canadian sovereignty, suggesting it become the “51st US state”.
Just days before Canada heads to the polls, a new YouGov poll suggests prime minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party is poised for a comeback, projected to win a clear majority. It says the Liberals are on track to win 182 seats—well above the 170 required for a majority in parliament.
