Midterm Meddling: U.S. Lists Canadian Actions While Trump Backs Foreign Leaders

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet on Wednesday that lists four specific actions by Canadian officials, framing them as potential interference in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The document follows repeated warnings from American diplomats regarding Prime Minister Mark Carney and other Canadian politicians. The release comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has personally endorsed candidates in foreign elections.

The embassy’s list includes Liberal MP Anthony Housefather canvassing for a Florida Democrat during a primary vote earlier this year. It also cites comments by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly regarding Canada’s counter-tariff strategy, some of which date back to March 2025 when she served as foreign affairs minister. The list further identifies the Ontario government’s Ronald Reagan advertisement, which ran in the U.S. last year, and a federal billboard campaign from early 2025. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and Trump adviser Peter Navarro had previously warned against Canadian involvement in the Nov. 3 vote.

President Trump has backed presidential or prime ministerial candidates in Poland, Honduras, Colombia, and Japan since returning to the White House in early 2025. Most recently, he voiced support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of an election on Tuesday. The president also supported former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s re-election bid, a campaign that featured Vice President JD Vance at a rally in Budapest. Additionally, Trump suggested that financial support for Argentina would hinge on a good result for President Javier Milei’s party during last year’s midterms.

"I'm not supposed to be endorsing people," Trump said during the February inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace. "As long as it works, it's OK with me." Former U.S. ambassador to Canada James Blanchard, in an interview with Rosemary Barton Live airing on Sunday, stated that the administration has "no credibility" given this track record. "If this accusation had come from the Reagan administration or the Bush administration or the Obama administration, the Clinton administration, I would take it seriously," Blanchard said. "But I can't from this current administration."

Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, described the situation as "the pot calling the kettle black." He noted that while Housefather’s canvassing might be "slightly unusual," meetings between Joly and American politicians amount to "garden variety diplomacy." Drezner pointed out that it is typically the norm for heads of state to avoid overt campaigning in foreign elections to maintain business relationships. He added, "They're going to blame anyone and everyone. That is the modus operandi of this White House."

Prime Minister Carney dismissed the claims during a news conference in Istanbul on Friday. "There is no merit to these claims, so I'll call it out that way," Carney said. "I'm disappointed that their envoy sees that as his role, to make these suggestions," he added regarding Hoekstra. Joly has also pushed back, noting she has met with both Republicans and Democrats in recent months. The embassy declined to comment when asked if a Canadian official offering a similar endorsement to a midterm candidate would constitute interference.

The trade war has become a pressure point for Republican candidates in border states. Sen. Susan Collins, who represents Maine, said Friday that she "secured" some exemptions to tariffs. "I will continue working directly with administration officials to seek additional relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbour, ally and largest trading partner," she wrote on social media. Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate for Michigan's open Senate seat, released a 30-second ad earlier this month criticizing the tariffs. "Here in Michigan we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now," Rogers said in the ad.