Trump once again calls Trudeau 'Governor' in war of words over tariffs

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Donald Trump didn’t waste any time reacting to Justin Trudeau’s response to tariffs imposed on all Canadian products entering the U.S.

The U.S. President took to his Truth Social account over the noon hour on Tuesday, calling the prime minister “Governor” once again in response to Trudeau’s remarks.

“Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!” the president wrote, threatening further levies on its northern neighbour.

Trudeau spoke Tuesday morning, hours after the 10% tariffs on Canadian energy and 25% on all other goods came into effect.

“Now, it’s not in my habit to agree with the Wall Street Journal, but Donald, they point out that even though you’re a very smart guy, this is a very dumb thing to do,” Trudeau said at a press conference in Ottawa, referring only to the president’s first name.

Since reassuming office on Jan. 20, Trump has regularly referred to Trudeau as the “Governor” of Canada and has openly mused that the country should become the 51st state.

Earlier in the morning, Trump pointed to the fact that companies that move back to the U.S. are exempt from tariffs.

In addition, he complained that American banks are being kept out of Canada.

“Canada doesn’t allow American Banks to do business in Canada, but their banks flood the American Market,” Trump wrote. “Oh, that seems fair to me, doesn’t it?”

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Shortly after Trump made his claim, a Canadian banking advocacy group stated that there are in fact 16 U.S.-based bank subsidiaries and branches with around $113 billion in assets currently operating in the country.

“These banks specialize in a range of financial services, including corporate and commercial lending, treasury services, credit card products, investment banking and mortgage financing,” the Canadian Bankers Association wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.

“They serve not only customers with cross-border business activities, but also Canada’s domestic retail market. U.S. banks now make up half of all foreign bank assets in Canada.”

American banks currently doing business in Canada include Citibank, J.P. Morgan Bank, Comerica Bank, M&T Bank and Northern Trust Company.