Zach Beauchamp, a Vox.com journalist living in Canada for several months, has been left puzzled by President Donald Trump’s objectives in his ongoing trade conflict with Canada. In an interview with colleague Sean Collins, Beauchamp expressed bewilderment over Trump’s motivations, noting that both Canadians and himself struggle to comprehend the U.S. president’s endgame.
Beauchamp initially believed Trump’s declaration of wanting Canada to become America’s ‘51st state’ was mere trolling. However, he now suspects Trump may be entirely serious about this proposition, leading him to question whether Trump has any coherent goals beyond simple bullying on the global stage. ‘It seems somewhere along the way, inside Trump’s head, this went from being a joke to a serious thing,’ Beauchamp explained.
He highlighted how Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the government officially view Trump’s actions as an attempt to bully Canada into submission. Beauchamp admitted it took him time to grasp the seriousness of Trump’s stance, stating, ‘I just didn’t believe Trump would do that at first, because it’s so stupid.’ He emphasized that economically coercing Canada into becoming part of the U.S. is not feasible given the balance of power between the two nations.
Beauchamp likened Trump to a ‘mad king’ issuing nonsensical orders, suggesting his actions defy logical explanation. The journalist’s evolving understanding underscores the confusion and frustration many Canadians feel as they try to make sense of Trump’s approach to international relations.