The Great Decoupling: Why Canadians No Longer Trust Trump’s America And See The USA As "Unfriendly" or "The Enemy"

Canadian opinion on the U.S. has flipped post-2024, sparking a surge in support for Mark Carney's national strategy.

America the Adversary? Why Canadians Are Turning Their Backs on Trump’s USA

When Donald Trump returned to the White House in November 2024, Canadians didn’t just sigh. They recalibrated. From coast to coast, Canadians began to question their southern neighbor not as an ally, but as a threat.

Recent polling confirms it: Canadians’ favorability toward the United States has collapsed to pre-Biden levels. A 2025 survey by Leger found that 49% of Canadians now view the U.S. as "unfriendly" or an "enemy", with just 30% describing America as a friendly ally. That makes Trump’s America less trusted than China.

Infographic: Canadian Views of the United States, 2025

Red: Unfriendly/Enemy (49%)
White: Neutral (21%)
Light Red: Friendly/Ally (30%)

This collapse in trust is worse than during Trump’s first term. Back then, Canadians described him as chaotic and dangerous. Today, they use words like "existential threat." And they mean it.

Trump Is Historically Unpopular in Canada

According to multiple 2025 polls:

• 74% of Canadians disapprove of Donald Trump

• Only 13% view him favorably

• Among Conservative voters? Only 27% are supportive — and 60% are not.

Even more telling: 27% of all Canadians now describe the U.S. as an enemy power. That’s not just about Trump. That’s about what his leadership says to Canadians about America’s future

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Infographic: Canadian perceptions of the United States in 2025. Nearly half of Canadians characterize the U.S. as “unfriendly” or an “enemy” (red slice), far outnumbering those who see the U.S. as a “friendly” or allied nation (pink slice). The remaining segment (white) are neutral or undecided.

Political Earthquake: Mark Carney Surges

If Trump’s second coming has lit a fuse in Canadian public opinion, Mark Carney has become the firewall. Since taking leadership of the Liberals, Carney has surged in public support:

• 48% approval (the highest of any major leader)

• +18 net favorability, compared to Poilievre’s -17

• Seen by 48% of Canadians as best equipped to stand up to Trump

Infographic: Canadian Leader Approval Ratings, 2025

Mark Carney: 48% approve / 30% disapprove
Pierre Poilievre: 35% approve / 52% disapprove

This isn’t just about charisma. It’s about capacity. When asked who would “stand up to Trump,” Canadians picked Carney. When asked who would cave, they pointed to Poilievre.

And it’s working.

As of June 2025, Carney’s Liberals are now leading in most national polls, erasing a 20-point Conservative lead from late 2024. Canadians don’t want a government that tries to appease Trump. They want one that protects them from him.

The Annexation Comment That Broke the Ice

Earlier this year, Trump joked that Canada should just become a U.S. state. Canadians didn’t laugh. Instead, politicians across all parties slammed the comment as a sign that Trump doesn’t respect Canadian sovereignty.

It sparked a national reckoning. Do we really think of the U.S. as our partner anymore? Can we afford to

Conclusion: A Canadian Awakening

The polls, the politics, the punditry all say the same thing: Trump’s re-election has triggered a Canadian awakening. It’s about sovereignty. It’s about self-respect. And it’s about refusing to let America’s chaos bleed across the border.

If Trump is a stress test for global democracy, Canadians are showing signs they’re ready to pass.

And Mark Carney might just be the one to lead them through it.