Top Canadian officials are bending over backward to reassure President-elect Donald Trump of their commitment to border security as his incoming administration gears up to crack down on fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration. Trump, never one to mince words, has made it clear: take action, or face a 25% tariff on Canadian goods.
In a statement dripping with diplomacy, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc declared that Canada places “the highest priority on border security and the integrity of our shared border.” Translation? They’re sweating bullets over Trump’s warning that Canada will pay a “very big price” if it fails to address the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into the United States.
The Canadians are scrambling to show progress, touting partnerships with U.S. law enforcement to combat fentanyl smuggling and promising new detection measures at the border, including high-tech tools and detector dogs. But let’s be honest—if these efforts were effective, Trump wouldn’t need to play hardball.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, always eager to appease, chirped to reporters about his recent phone call with Trump, claiming they’ll “move forward in constructive ways.” It’s classic Trudeau—long on platitudes, short on action. Meanwhile, Trump has already announced that his first executive order in office will impose the tariffs on Canada and Mexico, keeping them in place until both countries prove they’re serious about border security.
The stakes are clear: Canada exported 75% of its goods to the U.S. last year, making the American market critical for their economy. But the issue isn’t just trade—it’s security. Trump has tapped Tom Homan, a no-nonsense enforcer, to oversee deportations and border enforcement. Homan wasted no time labeling the Canadian border an “extreme national security vulnerability,” pointing to the risk of terrorists slipping into the U.S.
Even Perrin Beatty, a former Canadian cabinet minister, admitted the obvious: Canada must take security as seriously as the U.S. if it wants to avoid economic fallout. “You will not get to the discussion about trade unless you can unlock the security issue first,” he said.
Trump’s no-compromise approach to border security is exactly what America needs after years of Democrat dithering. While Trudeau dithers and Mexico’s president begs for “dialogue,” Trump is putting American safety and sovereignty first. Democrats might prefer open borders and virtue signaling, but Trump knows that true leadership means holding other nations accountable.
Canada and Mexico have spent years exploiting weak U.S. policies. Now they’re learning what accountability looks like. Under Trump, America will reclaim its borders, its security, and its economic independence. That’s a win for every American.
