‘We’re Not the 51st State’: Canadian Ambassador Decries Trump’s Lack of ‘Respect’ for Northern Neighbor

Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations had some pointed words for President Donald Trump on Fox News.

Ambassador Bob Rae appeared on Monday’s Special Report shortly after Trump spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The conversation yielded a 30-day pause on tariffs that Trump said he would impose on Canadian goods beginning on Tuesday. Trudeau had pledged retaliatory tariffs in return. The potential trade war comes as the president continues to mock Canada while suggesting it become the 51st U.S. state.

Fox News host Bret Baier asked Rae about his views on Trump – specifically whether they had evolved since Rae wrote a scathing op-ed during Trump’s first term in 2017.

“No it hasn’t changed,” Rae replied.

“Because you wrote in 2017, ‘The determination of many world leaders to normalize this leadership has to be brought to ground. He should not be welcomed in our country.'”

Rae replied that at the time, he was speaking as a private citizen.

“I would say to you very directly that the concern I think all Canadians have – it’s not a personal thing about President Trump,” the ambassador said. “The concern we have is we don’t want the administration making and taking decisions that are going to create insecurity, uncertainty, and real collapses in the market in a way that’s quite arbitrary.”

Rae emphasized the need for “a reasonable and sensible discussion,” and one that respects Canadians.

“And by the way, we’re not the 51st state,” he said. “We’re a sovereign, independent country. Our leader deserves to be treated with respect and we deserve to be treated with respect. And that’s the way we want to proceed.”

Watch above via Fox News.