Americans unwittingly elected their first anti-Canadian president in history

But it should be remembered that U.S. President Donald Trump is an aberration. With a change at the White House, Canada and the United States could be besties again. History will eventually win out over histrionics.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump during a May 6, 2025, meeting in the Oval Office. Not long ago, the question of whether the U.S. is a friend or foe to Canada would have seemed preposterous, writes Michael Harris.Photograph courtesy of the White House/Daniel Torok

Opinion

BY MICHAEL HARRIS

February 2, 2026

HALIFAX—Not long ago, the question of whether the United States is a friend or foe to Canada would have seemed preposterous. The two countries were best friends, shared the world's longest unguarded border, and backed each other up when trouble came calling. It was a relat...

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