With Trump looming, Pierre Poilievre tries to wrap himself in the flag

As the giant Canadian flag loomed behind Pierre Poilievre at his “Canada First” rally last weekend, it was hard to ignore the shadow cast by Donald Trump. The former U.S. president now seems to loom over everything — almost as overwhelmingly as that massive flag.

If not for Trump, it seems unlikely Poilievre would have been celebrating Flag Day with such enthusiasm. In fact, if not for Trump, Flag Day — instituted in 1996 to commemorate the adoption of the red maple leaf as Canada’s national flag in 1965 — might have gone largely unnoticed.

The 29th annual Flag Day held particular significance for Poilievre, with his speech being described as a “shift” and a “rebranding.” It was hailed as “the pivotal moment of his career” and “one of the most important speeches” he had ever given.

Poilievre’s address aimed to provide reassurance and align with the national discourse. Standing before the towering Canadian flag, the Conservative leader acknowledged the threat posed by the new American administration and vowed to defend Canada if faced with tariffs on its goods.

“We will bear any burden and pay any price to protect the sovereignty and independence of our country,” Poilievre declared, echoing John F. Kennedy’s famous words from his 1961 inaugural address.

Surrounded by hundreds of supporters clad in red and white, Poilievre emphasized the importance of working together to safeguard the “Canadian promise” that anyone can achieve anything in this country.

While Poilievre has fully embraced the slogan of “Canada First,” he maintains that his core message remains unchanged. Despite suggestions to alter his platform in response to the tariff threats, Poilievre insists that the Conservatives have been vindicated by recent events.

In a tweet, he asserted, “Everything Conservatives said BEFORE the Trump tariffs is even MORE correct now.” He took pleasure in highlighting how his party’s positions on issues like the carbon tax, capital gains tax, and pipeline construction have been adopted by some Liberal leadership contenders.

However, Poilievre’s hour-long speech also drew attention to what he did not mention. The term “broken,” once a central theme for the Conservatives, was notably absent from his address. This shift may be attributed to a rising sense of patriotism that has made it difficult to paint Canada as fundamentally flawed.

Despite avoiding certain controversial topics, Poilievre retained his edge by critiquing the Liberal government’s purported promotion of a “radical, borderless, woke ideology.” He reaffirmed his commitment to cutting government spending, reducing regulation, and implementing what he dubbed the “biggest” and “most patriotic” tax cut in Canadian history.

In the lead-up to his speech, some analysts have suggested that Poilievre faces a “Trump problem.” While the former U.S. president is widely unpopular in Canada, a significant portion of Poilievre’s supporters hold favorable views of Trump. This poses a challenge for Poilievre, who must navigate this divide without alienating key segments of his base.

As Poilievre positions himself as a strong leader capable of responding to Trump’s threats, the question remains: Will Canadians embrace his populist style of politics or reject it in favor of a more traditional approach? The coming months will reveal how Poilievre’s message resonates with voters as he navigates the complex landscape shaped by Trump’s looming presence.