"I want to thank Donald Trump, without him, that would be impossible." Canada's 24th Prime Minister Mark Carney was too witty on Monday to really gain the credibility of the U.S. president for his party's return to office. But this is the truth of the Lord. By coveting Canada’s sovereignty, Trump turned the projection slide of the semi-Trump Conservative Party into a failure in a few weeks. Not bad for the first 100 days of the US president. He may be equally favored by Australia's current Labor Party this weekend, and even threatened to annex the country.
But Carney should be praised for nailing his opponent, Pierre Poilievre, to Trump's mast. Carney is not Poilievre’s Me-Too “Canada First”, but “Canada Powerful.” While he does so, he also stays away from his deeply unpopular Justin Trudeau as the liberal prime minister. Here are some lessons from the Democratic Party. If Kamala Harris had Joe Biden the same dispatch as Carney to Trudeau, she might have beaten Trump last November. Most importantly, Carney shows that non-demographics can win under the right conditions - in this case, it is a convergence of global chief populists.
Full disclosure: I've known Carney since the early 1990s. Although his skills as an economist and central bank were clear, Monday was his first election. Two days after replacing Trudeau, he was 60 years old. A few months ago, it was difficult to exaggerate this situation. Carney works at Goldman Sachs in London and New York. He then led the Bank of Canada. Later, he became governor of the Bank of England. He then joined a global investment company. He promoted ESG at the United Nations, two abbreviations that usually stand out from rude companies. If globalism had a name and a face, it would be Carney’s.
Only Trump can turn these millstones into wings. In this regard, the 47th President of the United States is unwilling to play democracy at home. He provides a crash course for Canadian median voters with the merits of rules-based internationalism. As the only person operating two G7 central banks, Carney can claim to know how the global economy works. Like the EU, Mexico, and most other countries, Canada suddenly awakens the danger of the traitor America. If the U.S. president can threaten the sovereignty of his neighbors and loyal allies, which country is safe?
There are two wider collections of ace handling. First of all, the cost of obedience is higher. Not only does the Ace disrespect the stupid people, but he also does his best to humiliate them. This also applies to foreign leaders. Trudeau flew to Palm Beach in November when Trump threatened tariffs from U.S. neighbors for the first time. Mexico's leader Claudia Sheinbaum did not make a trek. Trump respects her. He has always ridiculed Trudeau as "the governor of the 51st state." Leaders are willing to trade hastily indirectly with Trump's layoffs. His signature is not binding. Voters will not necessarily reward them with his comfort. The famous common sense Canada reminds us that certain things (patriotism, dignity) can have a higher value than short-term growth.
The second is that Trump is harmful to Trump people. Poilievre sold himself to a moderate version of Trump. Peter Dutton, the leader of the Australian (conservative) Liberal Party, has done a harder job. Both of them lock themselves in cages made by others. They are not easy to deny Trump when he takes steps to hurt his country's economy. Even low-key message voters know slippers when voters see a person.
Other right-wing leaders, especially Giorgia Meloni of Italy, are resisting Trump's full embrace. Sir Kyle Starmer of England should also pay attention. The more he can portray Nigel Farage of the British populist reform as Trump's stooge, the greater his implicit criticism of Trump. Additionally, Starmer may reach a tariff agreement that flatters Trump but can alienate friends and partners in the UK. Starmer's painting of two Brexit parties (including opposition conservatives) as foreign strongmen will take courage, but not an unrealistic technique.
In it, Trumpism’s self-critical heart. Just as Trump disdains his allies, he has no loyalty to his friends. Out of fear rather than dedication, a large part of Congressional Republicans supported him. Here again, Trump provides the world with a crash course. First, the best way to redeem the “Opinions of the United States (or Canada, Brazil, UK, Italy, Mexico, etc.)” is to have a good time with others. Strength and prosperity are multiplied by friends.
edward.luce@ft.com