Angry, betrayed and anxious: Canadians react to Trump’s tariffs and annexation threat

A new survey gauging the emotional temperature of Canadians confirms what most on this side of the border already know:  U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation and tariff threats are making people mad. 

Fifty-five per cent say they are feeling anger, followed by 37 per cent who say they feel betrayed, according to the Angus Reid Institute poll. Twenty-nine per cent of respondents say the threats have made them anxious.

The online poll surveyed 2,005 Canadian respondents between Feb. 27 and Mar. 3 — before tariffs of Canadian goods entering the U.S. came into force and before Canadian leaders announced a suite of retaliatory measures.

According to the survey, only 17 per cent of Canadians hold a favourable view of Trump, compared to 79 per cent who feel the opposite.

Trump’s special government adviser Elon Musk clocked in with a similar 79 per cent disapproval rating. Seventy-one per cent of respondents said they support a moratorium on the Canadian sales of Teslas made by Musk’s automotive company. 

The poll found that Canadians’ support for retaliation against the U.S. has been growing since January.

Majority support was found for three specific policy responses: a blanket 25 per cent tariff on U.S. goods entering Canada (65% support), targeted tariffs on key U.S. Imports (70%), and a ban on critical Canadian exports to the U.S. (65%).

Compared to other nations, the U.S. favourability rating of 24 per cent was only four points higher than China’s (20%) and well behind Mexico (75%) and the United Kingdom (82%).

According to the Angus Reid Institute, support among the American public for tariffs, especially if it means higher gas prices, is low.

The pollster said while half of Americans consider Canada “a valued partner and ally,” only 15 per cent of Canadians feel the same about their southern neighbours.

On Tuesday, Trump ordered 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.The only exception is Canadian energy, where the tariff rate has been set at 10 per cent. 

At a news conference in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is immediately introducing 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products that will expand to cover another $125 billion in U.S. goods in 21 days. 

British Columbia Premier David Eby said Canada is compelled to respond to U.S. tariffs in a way that is “noticeable and significant for American families,” before announcing the province is pulling liquor from Republican states off B.C. store shelves.

In addition to implementing tariffs, Trump has mused about annexing Canada and has repeatedly referred to the sovereign nation to his north as the “51st state.”

Eby said Canada will never be the 51st state and is encouraging B.C. residents to buy domestic products and avoid travel to the United States.

According to the Angus Reid Institute, the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.