President Donald Trump mocked transgender people in front of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose child identifies as nonbinary, during an Oval Office meeting in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that was intended to focus on trade relations but instead became a showcase of Trump’s familiar culture war politics.
The meeting, held in the presence of reporters, aimed to emphasize renewed cooperation between the two countries, which remain deeply economically intertwined. But as The Independent reported, it “devolved into a political rally disguised as a routine press availability.” Trump repeatedly veered off topic to attack Democrats, the media, and transgender people, boasting that under his leadership, “We have strong borders. We have no men in women’s sports. We’re not going to take your child away and change the sex of your child.”
Oh, I agree, but unfortunately I think I know how that will go.
He’ll continue to spout his bullshit and shit talk whomever gave him the dressing down, whenever he is put in front of a camera for at least a few weeks afterwards, probably calling whatever country they’re from a shithole, his supporters will buy it up and nothing will change.
If that was done by Carney, it would just politically burn any credibility in trade negotiations, and put Canada under the gun for further punitive tariffs.
I really really want to see someone call him out too, but I also understand why Carney wouldn’t.
He has to be as focused on the topic at hand and stay away from any side tracked conversation, as much as he can; he’s representing so many Canadian interests and companies that he can’t take the risk. I wouldn’t want him to take on that risk.
I can shit talk America’s tariffs all day long, and call Taco any manner of names, but at the end of the day, the (almost entirely) free trade that Canada and the USA had before now was always beneficial for both countries, and getting back to that point would be beneficial for everyone.
We sell a lot of material to US companies, and so they make up a nontrivial amount of the GDP. We’re working really hard right now to change that, but it’s still the reality of the situation.
Personally, I’m rooting for international trade with allies that are not the USA. That’s what I want to see. As much as I feel bad for our American neighbors who don’t support drumph, it’s up to them to rally together and fix this crap. I support them in their efforts, but more diversified international trade is only going to benefit Canada.