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More than 47,000 people have signed a petition calling on President Donald Trump to be prohibited from entering Canada.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The relationship between the United States and Canada has taken a hit in recent months, raising questions about the future of the two longtime allies.
Trump has imposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports, alongside a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy imports. Canada has responded by implementing its own retaliatory tariffs, leaving the two countries in a trade war.
Meanwhile, Trump has also sparked criticism from many Canadians by repeatedly saying he wants to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
What to Know
A Change.org petition set up last month by Dr. Sarah Boston, a veterinary surgical oncologist and stand up comedian, asked the Canadian Immigration Services and Canadian Border Services Agency to prohibit Trump's entry into Canada.
As of March 20, some 47,426 people have signed onto the petition.
The petition refers to Trump as a "convicted felon who is threatening Canada's Sovereignty."
"He has also stressed that border security along the Canadian border is a priority for him and we agree. We can't allow convicted felons from other countries across our border," the petition reads.
The petition referred to the guilty verdict in the May 2024 New York trial into whether Trump falsified business records related to a hush money payment allegedly made to adult film actor Stephanie Clifford, better known by her stage name Stormy Daniels, ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump has maintained his innocence and has appealed the decision.
The petition states that Canadian law does not allow most convicted felons into the nation, and that signers don't believe he meets the exceptions—meeting legal requirements to be deemed rehabilitated, applying for individual rehabilitation or receiving a pardon.
"Also, let's be honest, we just don't want him here," it reads. "We do not want Donald Trump to visit Canada under any circumstances."
What People Are Saying
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday afternoon: "My meeting with the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations was focused on keeping Canada's economy strong in the face of unjust tariffs. We're ready to engage with the U.S. on a comprehensive negotiation—when Canada is shown respect as a sovereign nation."
U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News' Laura Ingraham: "I deal with every country, indirectly or directly. One of the nastiest countries to deal with is Canada... [Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau—I call him Governor Trudeau—his people were nasty, and they weren't telling the truth. They never told the truth."
What Happens Next
While Canada is unlikely to become part of the U.S., tariffs will continue to affect both the U.S. and Canada. Many of those tariffs—including those covered by the USMCA free trade agreement, which Trump negotiated between the U.S., Canada and Mexico during his first term—have been pushed back to April 2.
Trump has said the tariffs are necessary to pressure Canadian officials to increase security on the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., but economists say American consumers will face higher prices as a result of the policy.
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About the writer
Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more