Trump’s diplomatic trolling has sparked disbelief and defiance – but also revived questions of national identity

A lone figure takes to the stage, a giant maple leaf flag rippling on a screen behind him as he gingerly approaches the microphone.

“I’m not a lumberjack, or a fur trader,” he tells the crowd. “I have a prime minister, not a president. I speak English and French, not American. And I pronounce it ‘about’ – not ‘a boot’.”

The crowd, indifferent at first, grows increasingly enthusiastic as the man works his way through a catalogue of Canadian stereotypes, passing from diffidence to defiance before the climactic cry: “Canada is the second largest landmass! The first nation of hockey! And the best part of North America! My name is Joe! And I am Canadian!”

In response, Canadians have taken to acts of patriotism, small and large: one pilot flew his small plane in the shape of a maple leaf; sports fans have booed US teams; hats insisting “Canada is not for sale” have gone viral; consumers have pledged to buy only Canadian-made products – a pledge skewered in a viral sketch in which one shopper berates another for buying American ketchup.

  • @atomicpoetEnglish
    8•4 days ago

    So now we’re treating every tantrum as a declaration of war?

    Your entire method of argument is to gaslight, throw red herrings, and make shit up.

    Nobody mentioned “declarations of war”.

    What we have mentioned are threats. And threats should be perceived as threats. It is foolish to not take them seriously.

    Guns don’t make fantasies real—they just make them louder.

    Hate to tell you this, buddy, but the guns are real.

    Ah, the classic slippery slope fallacy. Tariffs are economic tools, not invasion prep.

    Right, because the USA never used economics as a weapon prior to an invasion. Oh wait. They have. That’s pretty much the textbook for how they operate.

    Now I never said the USA will invade Canada, but you would be foolish to not consider the possibility and plan accordingly.

    So it’s time to stop dismissing these annexation threats as “fantasy” and get real about how Trump might try to make this happen.

    Cute deflection. Economic force is force, but it’s not annexation.

    When Trump says he wants to annex Canada, and will use economic force to do this—following it up with tariffs—what will happen once that economic force doesn’t work?

    Taking threats seriously doesn’t mean blowing them out of proportion.

    Thing is, you’re not taking these threats seriously at all. You’re simply saying they won’t happen.

    I literally asked you the simple question of how any of this addresses Trump’s annexation threats and you called them a “fantasy”.

    Then I’d tell you to stop watching propaganda and start engaging with reality.

    Right, “reality”. 🙄

    And mine is based on understanding how power works beyond soundbites. Public statements are theater; policy is where the real game happens. But sure, keep quoting Trump like he’s Nostradamus.

    Nostradamus is dead and buried. Trump is alive and has guns.

    Projection much?

    Fools are always certain of themselves.