Trump Backed Foreign Candidates While U.S. Accused Canada of Midterm Meddling

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa accused Canada of interfering in the November 3 midterm elections on Wednesday, a claim that contrasts with President Donald Trump’s recent endorsements of foreign political rivals. The embassy’s fact sheet cited specific Canadian activities as potential interference, even as the White House has publicly backed candidates abroad.

The embassy document pointed to four instances. It named Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who canvassed for a Florida Democrat during a primary earlier this year. It also cited comments by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly regarding Canada’s counter-tariff strategy, remarks dating back to March 2025 when she served as foreign affairs minister. The list included the Ontario government’s Ronald Reagan advertisement that aired in the U.S. last year and a federal billboard campaign from early 2025.

Trump has supported presidential or prime ministerial candidates in Poland, Honduras, Colombia, and Japan since returning to office in early 2025. Most recently, he voiced support for Netanyahu, who faces an election on Tuesday. The president also backed Viktor Orbán’s failed re-election bid in Hungary, a campaign that featured Vice-President JD Vance at a rally in Budapest. In 2025, Trump suggested that financial support for Argentina would depend on a favorable result for President Javier Milei’s party.

Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, described the situation as the pot calling the kettle black. He told CBC News that the administration has a long track record of intervening directly in the elections of official allies. Former U.S. ambassador to Canada James Blanchard said the administration has no credibility given Trump’s public endorsements. Blanchard stated that he would take the accusation seriously from the Reagan, Bush, Obama, or Clinton administrations, but not from the current one.

Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed the claims during a news conference in Istanbul on Friday. Carney said there is no merit to the accusations and expressed disappointment that Ambassador Pete Hoekstra sees his role as making such suggestions. The embassy declined to comment when asked if a similar endorsement by a Canadian official would also constitute interference.

The trade dispute has become a pressure point for Republican candidates in border states. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said Friday that she secured exemptions to tariff levies and will continue working with administration officials for additional relief. In Michigan, Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers released an ad criticizing the tariffs, stating that Canada is not an enemy. Carney said Friday that he does not expect the administration to blame Canada for poor midterm results and impose further tariffs on exports.

The embassy’s list followed warnings from Hoekstra and Trump adviser Peter Navarro that Canada should not get involved in the midterms. Carney and other government officials have pushed back on the suggestion that Canada is looking to influence the vote outcome.