The U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hextra, has expressed concern about the lack of enthusiasm among Canadians for strengthening ties with their neighbors to the south.
Speaking at a Halifax Chamber of Commerce event, Hextra, a former Michigan representative who took up his role in April, shared his disappointment. “It’s been tough to find Canadians who really care about U.S.-Canada relations,” he remarked.
He referred to a slogan associated with a recent boycott movement against American products that has resonated in Canada, saying, “You ran the campaign. ‘Raise your elbows,’ which signifies an anti-American sentiment. It’s unfortunate that this is happening.”
His comments have sparked some backlash among Canadians. One frustrated Reddit user responded, “Hoekstra can suck hairy mousse nuts. We’re not anti-Americans; we’re anti-Maga.”
Another commenter characterized Hextra’s statements as reflective of an abusive dynamic. “The victims get blamed for responding to the abuse, and then Gaslight makes them feel it’s somehow their fault,” they expressed.
In earlier remarks, Hextra indicated that the Trump administration’s hopes for negotiating key issues like national defense and nuclear power with Canada are now looking bleak. “Americans were optimistic about establishing a larger agreement,” he mentioned during an event in Ottawa hosted by the International Council of Canada.
He noted that the integration of the two economies spans various sectors—including energy and automotive—and emphasized the desire to not just renegotiate existing agreements, like the USMCA, but to expand upon them.
“Unfortunately,” he concluded, “that seems unlikely to happen at least for the time being.”
