Poilievre says he's a 'tough guy' who can take on Trump and his taunts

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday he's a "tough guy" well suited to take on U.S. President Donald Trump and that's why the American leader said he thinks it's easier to "deal with a liberal" in Canada than a conservative.

The comment comes as Poilievre and his main opponent, Prime Minister Mark Carney, both jockey to present themselves as the anti-Trump candidate in the upcoming federal election, which is expected to be dominated by talk of the president's punishing tariffs and annexationist taunts.

Speaking to reporters in Sudbury, Ont., Poilievre spun Trump's comments as an endorsement of Carney and a sign the president "wants the Liberals in power."

He said the president wants "weak, compromised and conflicted leadership.… That's why he endorsed Mark Carney yesterday."

Trump did not mention either Poilievre or Carney by name in his remarks or formally endorse anyone.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump was pressed on why he's been harder on Canada with his tariffs and threats than some of America's "adversaries."

The president said, without explaining how, that Canada "cheats" and "charges" the U.S. and repeated his false claims about Americans "subsidizing" this country to the tune of $200 billion a year. The U.S. trade deficit with Canada — which is largely driven by cheap oil imports — is much smaller than that.

Laura Ingraham, the Fox host, said Trump's tough talk on Canada has buoyed the governing Liberal Party and threatened the Conservatives' election chances, which could be seen as a loss for the U.S.

Trump said he doesn't care about Conservative electoral fortunes because Poilievre is "stupidly no friend of mine," an apparent reference to Poilievre saying in the past he's not a "MAGA guy."

"I don't know him but he's said negative things," Trump said of Poilievre.

"So, when he says negative things, I don't care. I actually think it's easier to deal with a liberal and maybe they're going to win, but I don't really care. It doesn't matter to me at all."

Trump denounced former prime minister Justin Trudeau's team, however, saying "his people were nasty." Trump has previously criticized Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, who helped broker the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in his first term.

Poilievre said he's the leader to stand up to Trump because the Liberals will just leave Canada in a weakened position and susceptible to possible annexation.

"What Canadians need is a leader who's tough, firm and stands by his convictions, a leader who will make us strong, self-reliant and able to stand on its own two feet, a leader who will put Canada first," Poilievre said.