President Donald Trump fired off what appeared to be passive-aggressive tweets to world leaders on Thursday, one day before he is set to meet G7 leaders for a summit in Canada.
Trump, who has recently clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over his decision to impose tariffs on imports of Canadian steel and aluminum, accused Trudeau of gouging the US with his own tariffs.
“Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things,” Trump said in a tweet on Thursday. “But he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture,” the US president said.
Throughout the escalation in rhetoric, Trudeau slammed Trump’s tariffs in several media appearances, calling the decision “totally unacceptable” and “insulting.”
The relationship has reportedly frayed to the point where Trump was considering sending Vice President Mike Pence to the G7 summit in his place, according to a Washington Post report.
Trump also railed against French President Emmanuel Macron in a separate tweet. Macron, who signaled closer ties with Trudeau ahead of the summit, rebuked Trump and likened him to a rogue leader.
“Our values and interests are built through multilateralism, including American interests,” Macron said in a tweet. “Let us look at history: isolationism is bad for the American people. I think President Trump knows that.”
“The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be,” Macron said in another tweet. “Because these 6 countries represent values, they represent an economic market which has the weight of history behind it and which is now a true international force.”
Trump appeared to have taken notice and pushed back: “Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers,” Trump said in a tweet. “The EU trade surplus with the U.S. is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow.”
Fears of a looming trade war were heightened last week after all the G7 nations announced plans to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs with tariffs of their own. A statement from the G7 finance ministers specifically called out the US for its policies.
“Concerns were expressed that the tariffs imposed by the United States on its friends and allies, on the grounds of national security, undermine open trade and confidence in the global economy,” the statement said. “Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors requested that the United States Secretary of the Treasury communicate their unanimous concern and disappointment.”
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