DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – U.S. ambassador to Canada and Michigan native Pete Hoekstra scuffled with Canadians on Thursday where he said our neighbors to the north are involved in an “anti-American” campaign.
Hoekstra made the remarks at a luncheon hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Congress. His comments addressed the use of the word “trade war” as a description of the economic changes between the two counties.
“I’m disappointed that I came to Canada…[where] it is very, very difficult to find Canadians who are passionate about the American-Canadian relationship.”
Hoekstra also pointed his comments towards Canadian politicians. “You ran a campaign where it was anti-American. ‘Elbows up.’ It was an anti-American campaign. That has continued. That’s disappointing,” Hoekstra said.
The “elbows up” comment stems from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign last year which references a move hockey players use to protect themselves from opponents.
Hoekstra pushed back against the American mainstream media narrative over tariff problems between the two nations. He posted on X, saying “Canada has the best trade deal with the United States right now—85% of products remain tariff-free under USMCA—and we’ve built decades of prosperity together. I remain optimistic about our future.”
