Election Watch: U.S. Cites Canadian Actions Amid Trump Global Endorsements
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa lists specific Canadian political moves as potential interference, even as President Trump has publicly backed foreign rivals in recent months.
By Amelia Gupta ·
American voters in border states face a complex backdrop as the U.S. government points to Canadian political activity ahead of the November 3 midterms. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a document on Wednesday that outlines specific instances it claims amount to potential interference in the upcoming election. These accusations come while President Donald Trump has been actively endorsing candidates in other countries, a practice that complicates the White House's position on foreign electoral involvement.
The embassy's release, described as a fact sheet, cites four distinct Canadian actions. These include Liberal MP Anthony Housefather canvassing for a Florida Democrat during a primary earlier this year. It also lists comments made by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly regarding Canada's counter-tariff strategy, some of which date back to March 2025 when she held the foreign affairs portfolio. The list further includes an advertisement for former President Ronald Reagan run by the Ontario government in the U.S. and a federal billboard campaign launched in early 2025.
These measures follow warnings from Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and Trump adviser Peter Navarro, who urged Canada to stay out of the midterms. Prime Minister Mark Carney and other Canadian officials have rejected the notion that their government is trying to influence the vote. Carney addressed reporters in Istanbul on Friday, stating there is no merit to the claims. He expressed disappointment that the U.S. envoy views making such suggestions as part of his role.
Trump's own record of international endorsements provides context for the debate. Since returning to the White House in early 2025, he has backed candidates in Poland, Honduras, Colombia, and Japan. He recently voiced support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an election on Tuesday. He also supported former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose re-election bid failed despite Vice-President JD Vance appearing at a rally in Budapest. In Argentina, Trump suggested a financial support package would depend on a favorable result for President Javier Milei's party.
Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, called the situation a case of the pot calling the kettle black. He noted that the administration has a long history of intervening directly in the elections of official allies. James Blanchard, the former U.S. ambassador to Canada, told Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday that the administration lacks credibility given Trump's public endorsements. He argued that he would take the accusation seriously if it came from a previous administration, but not from the current one.
Canadian officials have pushed back against the specific examples. Joly stated she has met with both Republicans and Democrats in recent months. Drezner described Housefather's canvassing as slightly unusual but considered other meetings, such as those between Joly and Bernadette Jordan, Canada's consul general in Boston, to be standard diplomacy. Trump officials have also shown interest in the recent Alberta referendum, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling the province a natural partner for the U.S. in January.
Republican candidates in border states are feeling the pressure of the trade war. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said on Friday that she secured exemptions to certain tariffs. She pledged to work with administration officials for additional relief. In Michigan, Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers released a 30-second ad criticizing the tariffs, stating that Canada is not an enemy and the tariff war needs to end.
The U.S. Embassy declined to comment when asked if a Canadian official endorsing a midterm candidate would constitute interference. Carney said on Friday that he does not expect the administration to blame Canada for poor midterm results or impose more tariffs. The next scheduled event is the Israeli election on Tuesday, which Trump has explicitly supported.
