As Trump ramps up the rhetoric, U.S. ambassador tells Canada to tone it down

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OTTAWA — U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says Canadian politicians need to tone down their rhetoric as Ottawa and Washington remain locked in a bitter trade dispute but declined to say whether U.S. President Donald Trump should do the same.

Speaking to CTV News after arriving in Gander, N.L., for a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Hoekstra said it was “time to take the tenor down.”

“There have been things said by Canadian politicians that, at least I’ve heard, they regret saying,” Hoekstra said. “Let’s talk about the issue here. Let’s get it resolved and move forward.”

Asked directly whether he would deliver the same message to Trump, whose social media posts have repeatedly targeted Canada and suggested the United States should absorb its northern neighbour, Hoekstra declined to answer, saying he was in Gander to commemorate Sept. 11.

The comments came as Prime Minister Mark Carney, during a press conference in Calgary, said that he remains in regular contact with Trump despite tensions between the two countries.

The trade conflict has strained bilateral relations and sparked public disputes over the deterioration of the relationship, while Trump and the White House have repeatedly mocked Canada and Carney through AI-generated memes.

“We continue to have work with the United States. We can compartmentalize across this,” Carney said after signing multiple declarations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Thursday.

“President Trump and I remain in regular contact. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times in the last few days about issues here at home, developments in Iran and other global matters. Part of our responsibility is to work together.”