US Ambassador says US monitoring Canada for election interference

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has stated that American officials are "closely watching" Canadian politicians for signs of election interference ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3. In an interview on "The Really Big Show" podcast, Hoekstra warned Canadian politicians to keep their "nose out" of American politics in the weeks leading up to the vote.

Specific Concerns Raised by Hoekstra

Hoekstra identified several recent actions and statements by Canadian officials that he suggested could be interpreted as political interference. He cited political ads run by the province of Ontario last year, noting that U.S. President Donald Trump ended trade talks with Canada in October 2025 after Ontario aired an ad during the World Series. The ad used clips of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs and supporting free trade.

The ambassador also pointed to comments made by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and former prime minister Justin Trudeau. Hoekstra said Joly made comments about targeting retaliatory tariffs at "politically sensitive states." Regarding Trudeau, Hoekstra referenced a discussion at Brown University on Sept. 22, where Trudeau criticized the Trump administration. "There is a pattern here of doing things that are driving up prices for your consumers and not necessarily making anything better for America, by fighting with one of your oldest and best allies," Trudeau said during that conversation.

Hoekstra stated that if any actions by Canadians end up amounting to election interference, the United States will respond. The ambassador declined a request from The Canadian Press for an interview.

Canadian Response and Trade Tensions

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly pushed back against the accusations on Wednesday, telling reporters that Canada would never engage in election interference and would "never accept that also being done to us in Canada." Joly stated that her recent visits to the U.S. were focused on attracting investments. "Fundamentally, what I've done in the U.S. is to attract investments," she said. "I think I'll be able to have good news of investments by different American companies to Canada. And that's exactly what I'm doing and that will continue to be my strategy in the U.S. and also around the world."

Tensions between the two nations have increased since Trump won the presidential election in 2024, particularly after he began threatening to turn Canada into the 51st state. Trump has continued to campaign on this issue in battleground states ahead of the midterms, which could end Republican control over Congress. At a rally in Bullhead City, Ariz., on Wednesday, Trump repeated his claim that Canada treats the United States "very badly" and said Canada will end up being the 51st state because "that's the only way it works."

Adviser Warnings and Political Context

Peter Navarro, one of Trump's trade advisers, also issued a warning to Ottawa last month. Speaking at the American Growth Summit in Washington, Navarro told the audience that any Canadians in the room intent on lobbying the U.S. government should "get the hell out of our country." He added, "The problem you have is you lobby this country, and you've been successful in the past, and you think you can keep doing that. Memo to Canada: You cannot keep doing that."

Navarro further stated, "That game is up and if you interfere in our elections in Maine or Michigan, you will pay even more dearly."

The Globe and Mail reported recently that Republican political operatives were on the ground in Alberta earlier this year to help the separatist campaign, and that some Alberta separatists went to Washington to lobby for U.S. government support. In August, Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered the Canadian negotiating team to call off trade talks with the U.S. after accusing the Americans of making unreasonable demands. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appeared on CNN on Tuesday to pitch the benefits of tariff-free trade, stating, "We have a 200-year-old relationship, there's always going to be grievances on both sides of the border."

Why it matters

The midterms on November 3 will determine control of the entire House of Representatives and one-third of U.S. Senate seats. With polls suggesting Democrats could win control of both chambers, the Trump administration is actively campaigning in battleground states. The ambassador's comments highlight the heightened sensitivity surrounding foreign influence in U.S. elections and the ongoing trade disputes between the two countries.

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Sources

• nationalobserver.com: Hoekstra says US watching Canada for signs of interference in midterm elections | Canada's National Observer: Climate News
• thestar.com: Hoekstra says U.S. watching Canada for signs of interference in midterm elections
• castanet.net: Hoekstra says U.S. officials are watching Canada for signs of election interference - Castanet.net

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.